May 16

THAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED

• W E D N E S D A Y M A Y 1 6 , 2 0 1 2 • N u 5

KUENSEL

COVERSTORY

RUPEERupee issue last date now first week of June

WHAT’S INSIDE » PG. 5: Game changer for chili growers

Delegation asked to justify increase in demand

The fallow fields at Pralang village in Tang gewog

GoI Line Of Credit

Vegetable Vendors

Nidup GYelTSheN

The Bhutanese delegation that was in New Delhi, India, last week to negoti-ate increasing the limit of Indian Rupee borrowings from the government of India has been asked to provide more information to justify the need.

Finance minister Wang-di Norbu yesterday said that the team is already working on the necessary informa-tion, and will be submitting it to the Indian government soon.

The team, comprising an official each from the finance ministry and the royal monetary authority returned home on Sunday, May 13.

“We’ve been asked to inform the Indian gov-ernment on how and why the deficit arose,” Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu said.

Earlier, government officials said that the en-hancement on the borrow-ings would come through in April. “Things are positive,” a source from the central bank, said.

The initial agreement was that the limit be en-

hanced from INR 3B to INR 6B. Later, with the rupee shortage seeing no signs of cooling down, it was decided that an additional INR 3B be requested. This would take the borrow-ing limit to INR 10B from the government of India standby credit facility, which levies an interest of five percent.

Today, the limit is INR 3B, which was exhausted many months ago. The limit on borrowings from the State Bank of India overdraft facility is INR 10B at a 10 percent interest.

If the deal comes through, Bhutan will be able to borrow up to INR 20B from both lines of credit.

Today, borrowings from the two lines of credit have reached INR 12B; INR 3B from the GoI line of credit and INR 9B from the SBI overdraft facility.

The task force report states enhancing limits on INR borrowings from GoI and SBI as a short term measure to address the rupee crunch in the economy, besides currency swap arrangements among SAARC nations.

(Story Pg. 9)

SONam peldeN

Following directives from the cabinet and, in consultation with the finance ministry, the Royal Monetary Authority yesterday agreed to extend the issue of Rupee to vegetable vendors until June first week.

The central bank would however issue INR in a demand draft for all 14 wholesale vendors together, until the vegetable sea-son begins in the country.

On May 13, vegetable whole-sale agents had requested the ag-riculture minister that the INR be issued to them until the end of

this month.The RMA had earlier said

that from May 19, it would issue INR to the Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB), and not to vegeta-ble vendors, to import vegetables that cannot be met from home production.

After June first week, FCB will take over the imports of those vegetables and fruits that cannot be met from local production. In a week, FCB is estimated to im-port 76.22MT of tomato, garlic, onion, chili and assorted fruits worth Nu 2M.

Bhutanese farmers today grow 31 types of vegetables in the country, show records with the horticulture division’s vegetable program, which functions out of a small office amid the lines of

single storied structures. During the “production sea-

son” from May to October, Bhu-tan produces 2,400MT (100MT a week) of local vegetables worth Nu 12M. In these six months, vendors only import onion, to-mato and gourds.

When local vegetable pro-duction drops in the country from November to April, Bhu-tan imports about 5,000MT (208MT a week) of vegetables, more than twice the amount it produces during its own season. The most imported vegetables are onion, tomato, chili, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, beans and eggplants, while the most exported vegetables are cabbage, turnips, peas, beans and chilis.

Pg. 2

*2 HOME WednesdayMay 16, 2012KUENSEL

CONVOCATIONB B PRADHAN MANAGEMENTCOLLEGE, KALIMPONG

Convocation of 6th batch of 89 students of BBA, BCA and B.Sc IT will be held at 9:30am on 26th

May, 2012 at BMC Auditorium, Kalimpong.

Students will report on 24th May, 2012 for registration

Rehearsal will be held on 25th May 2012.

Confirm participation before 15th May, 2012.

CONTACT:BBA Students : Mr. H L Pun +91 99322 35161 BCA Students : Mr. Benoy Thakur +91 99324 80603Administrator : +91 94344 98283

Please visit our website: bmc.acE-mail address: [email protected]

Mysterious ailment lays pupils lowWhile some suspect food poisoning, others feel it may be a rock spirit (lu) that’s responsible

Yangchen c Rinzin, nganglam

Of the 18 students of Nganglam high school, who were admitted to the Nganglam basic health unit (BHU) on May 13 for high fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, five were still being treated as of yesterday.

Although not confirmed, Dr Letho said it could be food poisoning. An investigation team from department of public health from Thimphu arrived yesterday.

The doctor said it is a sea-sonal sickness, but this time it was en masse, so it had become worrisome. “I enquired with the sick students, and none of them said they had anything unusual from outside,” doctor said. “So we need to find if it’s from the hostel mess.”

The investigative team will begin their investigation today. “It’ll need a lot of assessment, and it might take days to find accurate information,” a source said. “But we can’t confirm stu-

dents are suffering from food poison at this moment.”

The school vice-principal, Lhatu said it was around 3:30am on Sunday, when two girls, aged 16 and 17, reported suffering from severe headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, and were taken to the BHU immediately. Later at around 6pm, four others girls suffered from same symptoms. “And after dinner, 12 more stu-dents came up with same symp-toms,” the vice principal said.

The vice principal said the hospital staff rigorously checked about 27 boys and 30 girls in the

school on May 14, but most of them were suffering from mild headache or diarrhoea. “Their situation wasn’t major, and there were those suffering from other seasonal diseases,” the vice-prin-cipal said. “We also suspect they might have eaten something from outside, because Sunday is outing time for students,” vice principal added.

But the school management believes students might have got sick from a rock located near the school. The rock is believed to be a lu (where an underground serpent deity reside), and anyone who touches it could fall sick.

The vice principal said, while returning from hospital on Sun-day, one of the girls again fell sick, so a local khenpo (learned monk) was called to perform some prayers and rituals. “The girl recovered immediately,” he said. “We decided to conduct more ceremonies, after the khenpo said it could be the rock that’s harming students.”

But Nganglam Dungpa (sub division head) Nima Gyeltshen said an enquiry was done on the diet provided the day before stu-dents got sick. The students were served rice with fried cabbage and milk tea for breakfast, lunch with potato mixed cabbage and nutrella and lentil (dal), while ladyfinger and lentil was served for dinner. “I also inspected the ration and the mess,” dungpa said. “We found there were all fresh vegetables and no expired essential food items.” The mess was also found to be clean.

The school has outsourced the vegetable supply, while it gets essential items like oil, cheese and milk powder from Food Corporation of Bhutan.

The school has 482 students, of which 181 boys and 110 girls are hostellers, with five cooks in the mess.

ILLNESS

Nganglam HSS

… we need to find if it (the cause of the illness) is from the hostel mess”

Dr LethoBHUNganglam

‘‘

The Office of the Attorney Gen-eral (OAG) has filed a case in the Thimphu district court against three doctors and other health officials on charges of bribery and fraud in connection with health procurement in 2008.

A court official said that the hearings would begin very soon.

Kuensel sources said that the OAG, based on Anti Corrup-tion Commission’s findings, has charged three doctors, who were in the tender committee, for ac-cepting bribe from a supplier and availing privately sponsored

trips to Germany and China for inspection of non-drug equip-ment.

It has been learnt that an In-dian supplier bribed one of the accused in return for the award of supply orders. ACC investi-gated the trips to Germany and China by health ministry officers in 2009. It was found a Kolkata-based supplier had arranged trips to Germany and China for officials of the tender selection committee, while the company’s bid was still under evaluation by the same committee.

AOG files case against three doctors

From Pg. 1The amount of money Bhu-

tan spends on imports during the lean season is Nu 83M, almost seven times higher than the worth of what it produces in its peak vegetable season. Bhutan’s local produce of 120MT (5MT a week) during these lean months is worth Nu 4.8M.

Major vegetable suffi-ciency in two years

Bhutan is giving itself two years to turn around its vegetable production scenario to substitute imports of major vegetables, agri-culture officials said. Agricultur-ists estimate a budget of Nu60M in these two years to accelerate local vegetable production.

“We need to work, we’ve de-veloped a plan and, if we can im-plement as planned, then maybe, by two years, we’re hoping to be sufficient,” national vegetable program coordinator, Namgay Thinley, said.

Taking the minimum in-ternational standard vegetable required per day per person of 200 grams, Bhutan is today 56 percent vegetable sufficient, based on its total local vegetable production and the number of people it feeds, including expa-triate workers. Excluding the 50,000 expatriates, Bhutan’s self sufficiency in vegetables comes to 60 percent.

“When we say 60 percent, it means that the vegetable available for each of us is 139 grams per day, which is below the international requirement of 200 grams,” Nam-gay Thinley said. “But we’re not

sure how much each consumes.”For Bhutan to meet the

minimum 200 grams vegetable requirement, it needs to in-crease vegetables production by 24,000MT to its annual pro-duction of 30,595MT. “If we can achieve 54,445MT of vegetables, then 200 grams will be available per person per day,” he said.

To be self-sufficient, Bhutan will focus on growing 15 vegeta-bles (see box) at home that are imported in huge volumes, agri-culture officials said.

Work is already underway to take stock of what vegetable can be produced at what quan-tity from a particular dzongkhag for May and June. A preliminary estimate shows that about 19 dis-tricts can produce 4,680MT of 26 kinds of vegetables in these two months.

15 major vegetables to be cultivated on com-mercial scale

1. Chilli2. Onion3. Tomato4. Beans5. Cabbage6. Green leaves7. Cauliflower8. Broccoli9. Egg plant10. Okra11. Peas12. Carrot13. Bitter gourd14. Asparagus15 cucumber

Rupee issue last date ...

Courtesy: Vegetable program, Horticulture division

*HOME 3WednesdayMay 16, 2012

KUENSEL

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTMinistry of EconoMic AffAirs

Human Resource DivisionMoEA/HRD-45/2012/734

Sl. #

Position title Position level

No. of slots

Qualification required Place of posting

1. Technician III S5 A 4Class X with 2 years certificate course in Auto Engineering from VTI

DGM, MoEA

2. Driver III O4 A 2Class VIII with certificate of driving.Valid driving licence

MoEA

Interested Bhutanese candidates may apply to the HRO on or before 31st May, 2012 with the following documents:

1. RCSC employment form. 2. Academic transcripts.3. Valid medical fitness certificate. 4. Security clearance certificate. 5. CID copy. 6. Any training-related certificates.7. No objection certificate if employed. The list of short listed applicants will be posted in the Ministry’s website. For any information please contact HRO @ 328100/333761.

Human Resources Officer

Damchen Impex

Two youth nabbed for B&E

YesheY Dema

Thimphu police caught two men aged 17 and 24 on May 13 evening, for robbing a shop off its electronic gadgets worth Nu 300,000 the same morning. The 17-year-old is a class XII student in one of the schools in Thim-phu, while the 24-year-old is a graduate.

Damchen Impex at the cen-tral plaza in Olakha was robbed off five Lenovo laptops and nine LG mobile phones around 2:30 am that morning.

All stolen items were recov-ered from the men. They also confessed to the crime.

Around 6am that morning, Thimphu police station received

a call from the emergency de-partment, saying a man was in hospital with a deep cut on his right wrist. Police personnel were sent immediately to the hospital.

An hour later, police received a call from the shop owner. “We doubted something was wrong, and proceeded with our investi-gation,” the police said.

Police said the men had used a screwdriver to remove the iron rod from the window, and broke the glass to get inside the shop.

The 24-year-old man is still under treatment at the Thim-phu referral hospital for the cut he suffered from breaking the window.

Police said they have ar-rested the 17-year-old student, and would arrest the 24-year-old after he recovers.

CRIME

Robbed and recovered gadgets

The role of a reporter: To be au fait with the field

Election Coverage

ThinleY Zangmo

It is not only essential for the reporters covering elections to understand the country’s electoral process, but also be familiar with electoral laws, know country’s election his-tory, and understand media’s role in democratic elections.

So, Belinda Goldsmith, a trainer from Thomson Reuters Foundation, who has covered elections in about 12 countries, told Bhutanese re-porters, who are gearing for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“In a democratic elec-tion, a journalist is required to inform people of matters that are of public interest, give political parties and candi-dates the chance to get their message across, and act as a watchdog over government,” she said.

Belinda Goldsmith, who’s worked with Reuters for about 28 years, said the media should help voters prepare

for the election, by providing adequate information about parties, candidates and poli-cies they are offering, so that they could make an informed choice.

“The electoral manage-ment body also has a need to communicate information to voters and the parties,” she said, adding media was re-quired to cater that.

Belinda Goldsmith said, while giving equal access to all parties and candidates, media should ensure the representation of views was balanced.

“Media should talk to the candidates and ask questions, and not just accept what they say on face value,” she said.

On highlighting the four guiding principles for a re-porter, she said it was crucial to ensure accuracy, objectiv-ity, honesty and fairness.

“Though complete objec-tivity is impossible, with prac-tice, reporters can develop a high degree of objectivity,” she said, adding curiosity, news sense, perseverance, objec-tivity, skepticism and being comfortable with people were some of the essential qualities reporters should have.

But the overall election system here, she said, ap-peared good, sound and fair.

Belinda Goldsmith, origi-nally from United Kingdom, said the fourth King had been very visionary, for seeing a need to have elections, while people had been slower to realise this was a good thing for the country.

Reporters from vari-ous media houses are being groomed to cover elections in a five-day workshop that started on May 14. It is or-ganised by Bhutan Media In-stitute and Thomson Reuters Foundation.

WORKSHOPBelinda Goldsmith

Managing Director - Chencho Tshering, DePUtY Managing Director - Thinley Dorji, eDitor - Phuntsho Wangdi, neWS eDitor - Samten Wangchuk, DeSign eDitor - Chencho Tshering, cHieF PHotograPHer - Karma Dupchu, Printing gM - Karma Nima, circULation Manager - Ugyen Norbu, regionaL HeaD (KangLUng) - Pema Tenzin

4 PERSPECTIVES *My CounTRy, My Town

There was a time, when it was a matter of pride to say just how rapidly the capital city was growing.

Today, the same statement is uttered with regret.

The city has expanded so much that there is very lit-tle breathing space.

Areas that once fell outside the city premises, and where plots were sometimes granted as kidu to people, who did not have one in Thimphu but had the temerity to ask for one, are also brimming with concrete today.

The government’s recent move to reverse what they had already decided, to build affordable housing for civil servants in some of the prime locations of the city, was laudable.

This is especially, in light of the fact that most pri-vate land, its owners are maximising on, the resultant consequence of which is the unattractive disarray of structures popping up in just about every open space.

All the aesthetic we once believed in holds no water today, so long as there is growing demand for rental apartments and quick money to be made; and that in-cludes our banks.

Drive along the expressway, and the sight of all those random structures coming up one either side of it disheartens one.

As more and more of these structures begin to crop up, the city will begin to resemble those little towns in neighbouring countries that we used to once complain about, for being polluted and congested.

If we still insist that the country’s architecture is the first point of contact for visitors to identify with, then there is very little that makes us stand out, compared with some of our neighbouring nations.

Perhaps our architects and engineers have been trained in universities that teach them the same archaic programs and which are reflected in the designs, there for us to see.

There is room for optimism still.We have not reached a point, where things cannot

be rectified, at least with regards to the government lands that remain unexploited but come under threat of commercialist interests every now and then.

Having driven along the expressway, a drive be-tween the Memorial Chorten and Chubachu provides some space to sigh in relief, as the land on either of the stretch stays somewhat pristine.

That, of course, is only a matter of time, and subject to the decisions the powers-to-be in future make.

The government sounded helpless, when some of its officials said how it was only the government land that can be salvaged in the face of growing sense of com-mercialism among private landowners.

Well, whatever happened to the tools and laws with which government agencies have been empowered to scrutinise chaotic mushrooming of structures, like those of Olarongchu.

Even a concrete jungle needs lungs

WednesdayMay 16, 2012KUENSEL

Will dialling 113 get anything done?

My Say

Cutting costs : Is making a water tank double up as a signboard part of RSTA’s economy drive? Photo: christopher Sly (neeteen chhogyel tamang) trashigang

Send your letters and pictures to

[email protected]

Letters will be edited for space and clarity

May I ask what actually are the roles and responsibili-ties of 113?

Last time I dialed 113 was when cars in our neigh-bourhood had been vandal-ised. A total of 8 cars were defaced and 2 auto thefts in one night.

The ordeal did not end there, as we realised it had only begun. The initial process of reporting the case itself became a huge

farce. The end result: all is done and any effort from the police disappeared.

So it does not come as a surprise when most of the time people say, “What’s the point in dialing 113?”

Recently, as I happened to be driving through Khuruthang from Bajo, I witnessed a drowning. The only thing I thought was, let’s call 113.

I was not surprised at

the lukewarm response. Which leaves me wondering what happened thereaf-ter? So, pardon me, if I am wrong but, for a change, put into sincerity the actual ethos of “113”.

Pema Gyaltshen, Tencholing primary

school, Wangdue

*DZONGKHAG 5WednesdayMay 16, 2012

KUENSEL

Sherig Century CelebrationSMinistry of Education

Department of School EducationPrivate School Division

PSD/Notice-(42)/2012/645

Ministry of Education is pleased to announce that the nation launched the Sherig Century Celebration on 2nd May, 2012 coinciding with the auspicious birth anniversary of the late Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

The yearlong celebration will culminate on 21st February, 2013 coinciding with the National Education Day. A publication titled ‘Reflection’ will be released during the culmination. Therefore, we invite articles of not more than 1000 words reflecting your experiences with the education and how it has shaped you as an individual.

Please send in your articles either in hard or soft copy addressed to Karma Choden, Private School Division, Ministry of Education, Thimphu, or email at [email protected] latest by 30th September 2012.

Let’s celebrate Education! Let’s celebrate our Nation.

For further inquiries contact Karma Choden, Private School Division, Department of School Education at: 323237 (0) 17474057 (M) or email at

[email protected]

sd/ChairSherig Century Task Force

InvItatIon for BIds

royal institutE for tourisM & Hospitality

Tourism Council of BhutanRITH/PRO(QTN-04)/2011-12/343

Royal Institute for Tourism & Hospitality (RITH) invites limited bids for Designed and Production of Inaugural Plague from the registered licence holder.

A complete set of bidding documents may be purchased on payment of Nu.200/- (non-refundable) from Accounts Section, RITH starting 17th May, 2012 on working hours. Sale of bid will be closed on 12:00 noon on 31st May, 2012.

For further queries, please contact at 02-331282/74 during office hours.

Management

Game changer for chili growersKangpara Road

The near completion of a link to the highway has farmers looking forward with high hopes

Tempa Wangdi, Trashigang

By January 10 next year, it should be possible to drive to Kangpara, a major chili grow-ing area along the southern border of the eastern district of Trashigang.

There is less than nine kil-ometres to build to reach the Kangpara gewog centre; the final phase from Merak Ama river to Woongthung, where the gewog centre is located.

Connecting Kangpara to the national highway requires building about 38km of feeder road, of which two-third has been completed in the earlier two phases.

In the first phase, 16km was built from Kharungla to Grow-anchu. In the second phase, started in March 21 last year, 12.7 km was built from Tsangpo to Merak Ama river and com-

pleted by March 2012, four months ahead of schedule.

“The final phase might be completed ahead of deadline, because Rigsar construction completed the second phase four months ahead,” junior engineer Jai Kumar Ghalley of the DoR office in Tsangpo said.

The road has today reached

Paydung village in Kangpara, a kilometre beyond Merak Ama river. Padung, a tiny hamlet of six households, is a three-hour walk from the gewog centre. The road will go through Boom-shari, Sarong and Lamyong vil-lages before winding up at the gewog centre.

Chili producing Kangpara is also looking forward to a boom

in farming after the arrival of the road. Annually Kangpara pro-duces around 108,000kg of chili, cultivated over a 100-acre area.

“Once the road reaches the gewog office, two to three house-holds will try to sell a truckload of chili,” a villager in Zordung, Tshewang Tenzin, said.

The gewog also has high potential for potato. Kangpara gup (headman) Chempa Dorji said until now the villagers pro-duced potato only for self-con-sumption, despite its potential for large scale production, be-cause of absence of road.

Besides farming, trans-portation of raw materials for development of infrastructure and economic activities will also be accelerated, Chempa Dorji said.

So far, the road has bene-fited more than 200 villagers of Brekha in Khaling gewog, and Tsangpo in Thrimshing gewog.

An estimated Nu 257.2M was spent in the first two phas-es. Construction began on Oc-tober 23, 2008 from Kharungla several months after the first elected government was sworn in.

Once the road reaches the gewog office, two to three households will try to sell a truckload of chili”

Tshewang TenzinA villagerZordung

‘‘CONSTRUCTION

Not yet there: The feeder road beyond Merak Ama river in Paydung

*6 REGION WednesdayMay 16, 2012KUENSEL

CLASSIFIEDS

Wanted to buy: 2 nos. Hilux, 2000 model & above. Contact 17118959/77229991.

Sale: Toyota 4 runner Hilux ‘94 model. 17162209.

Sale: Concrete mixer. Contact 77251620.

Sale: Taxi WagonR October ‘10. Contact 17641918.

Wanted: On hire 4 no. JCB Backhoe loader for 2 months. Contact 17617077.

Sale: Eon (2 months old). Contact 17114214.

Sale: DCM ‘07, Bolero ‘09, Maruti van taxi ‘09. Contact Kel-Zang Assets Broker @ 77737561.

For sale: Alto ‘08, Eco taxi ‘11, EX2 Truck ‘11 (loan transferable), Pulsar bike ‘11, Toyota Corona ‘91, Landcruiser ‘86. Contact Happy Home Used Cars Dealer @ 17141551/77447498.

Sale: Tucson ‘05, Tucson ‘06, WagonR taxi ‘07, Santro taxi ‘08. Contact Norzoed Motors @ 17267253.

Sale: Restaurant and bar. Contact 77637854.

Rent: Space for shop/office available from 1st July, ‘12 at Yarkay Plaza, opposite taxi parking. Office space available above Pel-Wong Color Photo Lab. Contact 77652951.

Rent: Office space above 8 Eleven/below Imtrat. Contact 17240289.

Sale: Garment shop near Zangdopelri. Contact 16931126.

Rent: Small space for fast food in the main town. Contact 17497602.

Sale: Tourist standard restaurant at main town. Contact 17619068.

Sale: 15 decimal land at Semtokha above old highway. Contact 17607337.

Sale: Prime land measuring 17 decimal at Taba, 41 decimal at Debsi, 13 decimal at Namseling. Call 17607337.

Sale: 70 decimal land at Gelephu above airport. Contact 77449903.

Sale: 45 decimal land at Wangbama, opposite to education city and 42 decimal above education city. Contact 77630085.

Sale: 25 decimal at Lhamoizingkha near dungkhag geog office, near highway. Contact 17257170.

Sale: 11 decimal land at Khasadrapchu, 8 decimal land at Babesa. Contact 17141551.

Sale: 31 decimal land at Pachhu Tar, Phuentsholing @ 45,000 per decimal. Serious buyers may contact 17609742.

Vacancy: Factory worker -5, (qualification not required), sales person XII with computer knowledge. Contact Rabten Wire, Pasakha, tel. # 05-254296.

Vacancy: Kunzueng Institute of Information & Technology, Gelephu wishes to recruit one accounts faculty and one hardware networking professional. Contact 17150038.

Vacancy: House keeping, waiters, sweepers, gardeners, launderer. Contact Jambayang Resort. 327731.

Vacancy: Ticketing assistant (class 12) for tour company. Contact 17481855.

Vacancy: Required 10 factory workers for Yarab Pvt. Ltd. qualification not required and willing to do over time. Contact no. 17330366/Phone no. 05-254758.

Vacancy: Shop helper (male), salary 5,500 & driver light, salary 6000/-. For details call 77384820.

Vacancy: Reliable labourers required for landscape gardening work at Thimphu Tech Park, Babesa. Initially 3 weeks work, then further jobs if applicants are suitable. Start Monday 21st May. Phone Shax 17412465 or email [email protected]

Vacancy: Tsheringma Import & Rental requires two class X pass candidates for recruitment. Contact 17732252.

Vacancy: Manager (female) class XII pass with computer knowledge. Details contact 17546957, Yeshi Norbu Workshop, Rangjung, Trashigang.

Vacancy: Office assistant, class 12 with computer knowledge. Contact 17625804.

Computer & Management Institute, Thimphu & Phuentsholing: Offers one year certificate course. Five different courses with one fee. Job guarantee. Institute places the best one. Details, please call 17141797/17110661.

Announcement: BHUTAN PLY, PHUENTSHOLING, we manufacture plywood and flush door at competitive price. Free delivery on bulk orders. Contact 77394597, phone # 05-252213.

Announcement: This is to inform our valued customers that Zombala Restaurant at Hongkong Market will observe Bhutanese auspicious month (Dau Zhipa) with effect from 21st May - 19th June, ‘12. During the above mentioned month, no meat items will be served, only vegetable items will be available. Inconvenience caused is regretted.

More disruptions as Air India pilots’ strike continuesAt least 14 Air India flights have been cancelled as a strike by the pilots of India’s national carrier entered its seventh day.

Thousands of passengers have been stranded at Delhi and Mumbai airports. Many have complained of a lack of informa-tion from the airline.

The airline has sacked more than 70 pilots over the past few days in a dispute over training.

India’s aviation minister re-newed his call for pilots to enter talks.

Officials said at least eight Air India international flights and six domestic fights were cancelled overnight on Sunday.

Reports said about 200 pilots have called in sick since last Tues-day amid a dispute over training

for the new Boeing 787 Dream-liner planes.

The pilots are protesting against the decision to train pi-lots from Indian Airlines, which merged with Air India in 2007, to fly the new planes.

Air India pilots say that as the planes were ordered before the merger, they should be given pri-ority for training.

A day after the action began, the Delhi High Court ruled that the pilots’ strike was “illegal” and ordered them back to work, but many pilots have refused to return to duty.

The airline last week said it had stopped taking bookings for US and Europe-bound flights until 15 May.

BBC

Rekha is still considered a Bollywood diva

Indian actress Rekha takes parliament oath

Veteran Bollywood actress Rekha has been sworn in as an MP in In-dia’s upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha.

Taking her oath, the actress vowed to “faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter”.

India’s prime minister can nominate 12 people with special experience in “literature, science, art and social service” to parlia-ment.

Nominated by Prime Minis-ter Manmohan Singh to the Rajya Sabha, Rekha’s term began on 27

April.Rekha Ganesan, 57, a top

Hindi film heroine during the 1980s, was regarded as a sex symbol and is still considered a Bollywood diva.

Her hit films include Umrao Jan, for which she won a National Film Award for best actress, Sil-sila, Khoobsurat and Muqaddar ka Sikander.

Top Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is expected to take his oath as an MP on Wednesday.

BBC

DIVERSION 7*daffynition

ecotip

riddlemeree

todayinhistory

quotefortheday

happybirthday

homegrown

anagram

superstition

beaupeep

WednesdayMay 16, 2012

KUENSEL

scrabblegram rebus stop

An

swer

: Tri

po

d

8LAsT weeK’s Answer

because [Paraphrase]

Mom’s reason for having kids do things which can’t be explained logically

robinWilliam Blake in his poem, Auguries of Innocence, insists: ‘A Robin Redbreast in a cage puts all heaven in a rage.’

The reverse-gear riddle

q: What goes zzub zzub zzub?

a: Bumble bee flying backwards!

1985

Michael ‘Air’ Jordan was named

Rookie of the Year in the NBA.

GABRIelA Sabatini

1970-

'Tennis champion

Go Green

Wildlife gardens

Does your school have a wildlife garden or conservation area? If not, suggest one. Maybe you can help build it

Unscramble the anagram for a sport/game

A WET FEW RAN IT RIGHT (5,5,7) [A river adventure]

SoluTIoN: WHITE WATER RAFTING

“While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till it be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.”

SAMuel Johnson [1709-1784]

ReD-RuMpeD

Swallow (Hirundo daurica)

At S/Jongkhar; not that common KuenseL

To AdverTisecall 326191 or

fax 326638;email: advertisement@

kuensel.com.bt

To subscribecall 327463

For news call324684/322483

nu per units of foreign CurrenCy

as of yesterday

NOTES

Buy sell

us $ 52.95 54.70

pounD 85.10 87.45

euro 68.15 70.05

yen(100) 66.15 68.05

HK $ 6.80 7.00

Aus $ 52.85 54.30

sing $ 42.10 43.30

Courtesy BnB

8direcTions

• Take a 2- to 7-letter word from the letters in each row.

• To total points of your words, use scor-ing directions to right of each row.

• 7-letter words get 50-point bonus. • “Blanks” used as any letter have no point value.

imPeL goose brogue wobble

What the football star looked forward to during the off-season.

a: a SUPER“BOWL”

8 ADS WednesdayMay 16, 2012KUENSEL*

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTSDepartment of Forests and Parks ServicesNature Recreation and Ecotourism Division

INVITATION OF SEALED QUOTATIONMoA-ICS-14/2012/4082

Nature Recreation & Ecotourism Division (NRED) is pleased to invite sealed quotation for the supply of the following items from the eligible suppliers.

1. Sleeping Bag 2. Two Men Tent 3.Four Men Tent4. Gum Boots 5. Life Jacket (Boating)

Tender documents are available for sale from 16th May, 2012 till 28th May, 2012 on cash payment of Nu. 300/- (non-refundable) from Accounts Section of NRED Office at Kawajangsa, Thimphu.

Tender may please be submitted with sample on 29th May, 2012 on or before 12noon and the same will be opened at 3pm.

Program Director

Hotline:211 Hotline:211

Hotline:211 Hotline:211

Hotline:211

Hotline:211

NOTICE INVITING TENDER

DZONGKHAG ADMINISTRATION, PUNAKHADAP/Muni-26/2011-2012/2285

Punakha Dzongkhag would like to invite sealed item rates from the eligible contractors registered with the CDB holding valid trade and CDB licence for the work mentioned below:

Name of work Class Duration in months

EMD Tender cost

Major Renovation of Solid Waste Disposal at Laptsagu, Punakha

Small 10 2% of quoted amount

Nu.500/-

Bidding documents can be purchased from Khuru Municipal Office, Punakha effective from 16th May-16th June, 2012 for submission on 16th June before 12 noon to be opened on the same day at 2:30pm in presence of bidders attending the opening.

Dzongdag

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTTHIMPHU THROMDE

Post Box No.-215, Thimphu-11001TT/LMS/OO-02/2012/284

Regularization of excess land of Langjophakha LAP.

The Royal Secretariat has approved the regularization of remaining New Sathram Compilation (NSC) excess land of Langjophakha LAP vide HMS/AFD/3-3/2001-12/327 dated 19/7/2011.

Thimphu Thromde will be updating in the Thromde land records and will collect the land taxes due from the land owners in addition to the cost of excess land at PAVA rate approved by the Royal Secretariat.

Thimphu Thromde would like to inform the concerned owners to report to the land Management Section for updation from 21/5/2012 till 11/6/2012 (Three weeks).

Therefore, all concerned land owners are requested to report on the above mentioned dates during office hours without fail.

Thrompon

Keep Thimphu Clean and Green

Keep Thimphu Clean and Green

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NOTIFICATIONNATURAL RESOURCES

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED,

THIMPHUNRDCL/HQ/MeS/08/1423

NRDCL Management would like to inform that there is limited stock of spare parts for Caterpillar Excavator.

Anyone interested to purchase the parts may kindly contact the Stores Manager at tel. no. 323868/323834 Ext-106 during office hours.

NRDCL Management

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NOTICE INVITING TENDER(RE-ANNOUNCEMENT)MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Administration and Finance DivisionMOE/PRO-14/2012/3211

Ministry of Education invites sealed bids from eligible Bhutanese National bidders having valid licence for the Development of Comprehensive School Health & Safety Guideline for schools in Bhutan.

A complete set of bidding documents may be obtained from the Procurement Section, Ministry of Education with effect from 18th May, 2012 during office hours on payment of Nu. 500/- only (non-refundable) for the cost of tenders.

The bid must be submitted to the Chief Administrative Officer, Ministry of Education on or before 31st May, 2012 at 11:00 am and shall be opened on the same day at 3:00 pm in the conference hall of the Ministry of Education.

Chief Administrative Officer

SPACE REQUIRED FOR RENTTHDC India Ltd. requires following space for their office and residence purpose in Phuentsholing, Bhutan w.e.f July, 2012:

• 04 nos. of Flats of 04 BHK, or • 05 nos. of Flats of 03 BHK.

The flats should be in city area and preferably in one building. Interested parties may contact within one week at the following address:

THDC India Ltd.1st Floor, Pelkhil Centre,

Pelkhil Lam, Phuentsholing, Bhutan.Ph. +975-05-253009/8; 17160001, 17119203.

*HOME 9WednesdayMay 16, 2012

KUENSEL

Politics on the paddy fieldTashi Tenzin, BumThang

Rinchenla, 52, of Pralang village in Tang, Bumthang, is fighting to get irrigation water for his acre and half paddy field, which was started as a pilot project seven years ago.

Rinchenla said that, when the pilot project was first initiated by the former agriculture minister, the seven households of the vil-lage were supportive and culti-vated paddy until 2007.

When the new government was formed in 2008 by the DPT, his neighbours started to stop the water flowing to his fields, because he was the lone sup-porter in his village of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“In 2008, I planted paddy, but the other villagers refused to give water in the middle of the sea-son,” Rinchenla said. “I reported the matter to the dzongkhag administration and managed to get water and reap paddy for that

season.”However, the following year,

the villagers completely refused to give water, Rinchenla said. “Some of the villagers were on the road and some at the water source during the paddy season,” he said.

Rinchenla alleged that, on April 18 this year, while trying to water his field, two people from the village tried to stop him, say-ing the matter is yet to be solved by the dzongkhag court.

He once again approached the dzongkhag court, which issued an order, stating the vil-lagers should let Rinchenla use the water source for paddy. The order was read out to five of the villagers on April 24 by the village tshogpa (elected representative). Two of the villagers had refused to follow the court instruction be-cause the water passes through their fields.

Tshogpa Lekila said, al-though the two refused to agree, one of them in the evening agreed to let pass the water through his

field. But Rinchenla is not com-fortable with the decision, as not all the people involved agreed to the decision.

“If I supply water with the few people agreeing on the court instruction, then there will be the same problem arising in future, as all the people involved in the matter haven’t agreed in writing,” he said. “I can’t trust the people”.

Rinchenla has left his land

fallow this season. “Even if I start working, it’ll be too late for paddy, as it has to be planted on right time,” he said. “It will just grow but bear no fruit.”

Lekimo, 50, one of the vil-lagers, who had refused to let the water pass through her field, said she had asked Rinchenla to use proper pipes, so there is no damage to her field. “In 2008, I couldn’t harvest any potato from

where the water channel passes,” she said. “The seepage from the channel has affected my field and some portion even washed away”

The village’s water source comes from Tangrat, a few me-tres away.

Another farmer, 70-year old Karma, said he had also asked that proper pipes be used , so that his field is not damaged.

Pralang, Tang, Bumthang

DISCORD

Picture story: More than 50 designers participated in the national design competition, 2012 yesterday at the fashion show that was organised by the Royal Textile Academy and the Textile Museum. The designers were judged in three categories - kira, gho and embroidery. In each category, the winners was awarded a cash prize of Nu 50,000, Nu 30,000 and Nu 10,000. Ten weavers were awarded the Royal Patron’s meritorious award.

*10 ADS WednesdayMay 16, 2012KUENSEL

Ms Thomas has played an important role in developing the Agni-V

NOTICE INVITING SEALED QUOTATIONDZONGKHAG ADMINISTRATION, THIMPHU

TDA/ADM-49/2011-2012/5858

Dzongkhag Administration, Thimphu would like to invite sealed quotations from certified and authorized dealers for supply of following equipment to Tango and Wangditse Dzong Reconstruction Project Office.

The sealed bids should be addressed to Sr. Dzongrab, Project Manager, Dzongkhag Administration, Thimphu and must be submitted latest by 31st May, 2012 before 1:00pm and it will be opened at 3:00pm on the same day.

1. 30HP Kohler powered Lucas Portable Sawmill with gasoline engine-Model No. M8-30 (8” blade)-2 sets

2. Combiplaner with interchangeable Attachments (Jai WudPro)- Model No. J-1013L-2 Sets

3. Lifting Jack (30 ton)- 4 Sets

4. Power Chain-2 SetsSr. Dzongrab (Project Manager)

NOTIFICATIONNATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION LIMITED, THIMPHUNRDCL/HQ/MBDD/15/1443

The NRDCL would like to notify all the concerned that with immediate effect, all the sand transporters shall follow the RSTA approved transport rates as below:

Sl #

Type of

truckMake Model

Carrying capacity

(MT)

Rate (Nu./KM/

MT)

Transportation charge from Mitsichen/

Chuzadong, Punakha to

Thimphu

1 Heavy Eicher Terra 16 10.00 7.84x94x10 7369.60

2 Heavy Tata Tipper LPT1112 10.00 7.84x94x10 7369.60

3 Heavy Tata Timber body” SE1613 10.00 7.84x94x10 7369.60

4 Heavy Tata Twelve Wheeler LPT1918 12.00 7.84x94x10 8843.52

The cost of Sand at Quarry site (Mitsichen/Chuzadong) will be Nu.879.25 for 10MT and proportionately calculated for other trucks with different capacity. The supply shall start from 18/05/2012.

The above transportation is applicable only from Mitsichen/Chuzadong, Punakha to Thimphu. The sand cost should be deposited with NRDCL HQ, Thimphu on Sha Regional Office, Samthang, Wangdue and the cost of transportation will have to be paid directly to transporters by the customers.

All truckers are requested to follow the standard RSTA approved rates. If any truckers are overcharging the rate and brought to the notice of NRDCL, they shall be debarred/not allowed to transport sand in the future. The customers can lodge complaints to RSTA/DoFPS/NRDCL against any truckers overcharging beyond the above rates.

Please contact Marketing Division, NRDCL, Thimphu for any clarification at tel # 323868/323834 or Regional Manager , Sha Regional Office at tel # 481272/481537.

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TO ADVERTISE in KUENSEL call 326191 or fax 326638; email: [email protected], TO SUBSCRIBE call 327463; FOR NEWS call 324684/322483

HOME 11 WednesdayMay 16, 2012

KUENSEL *

NOTIFICATION

ROYAL BHUTAN POLICERBP/TD/A-116/2012/150

This is to inform the general public and the motorists that Traffic Police has intensified check on the high way and within the town to ensure compliance of traffic rules and regulations. It is done to ensure that motorists strictly and religiously adhere to basic traffic norms, rules and discipline for safety of all road users.

Motorists are very irresponsible, negligent and careless, who want to follow traffic rules only when they see traffic personnel and they do not, when no police is seen around

Therefore, all motorists are informed to drive cautiously within speed limit for their own safety and for safety of other road users. Traffic police shall be conducting checks like that of express way at the following locations as well, be careful not to speed.

l Core city roads l Swimming pool roadl Junshina-Pamtsho road l Motithang-Zilukha-Sangaygang roadl RICB-Kalabazar-Kunselphodrang road l Langjophakha-Taba-Dechencholing road

The most violated offences are:l Drink driving l Over speedingl Parking offences l Not carrying documentsl Reckless driving l Not giving right of wayl over taking

No one shall be excused form the penalty, punching and cancellation of licence subsequently. We request all to Co-operate with us to make the roads a safer place to drive for everyone.

Superintending of Police(Traffic Division)

NOTICE INVITING QUOTATION

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSIONThimphu

ACC/SECTT-28/680

The Anti-Corruption Commission invites sealed bids from interested travel/ticketing agents having valid license for the purchase and issue of air tickets for the following routes. The tender forms can be collected from the Administration & Finance Division or downloaded from the website at www.acc.org.bt free of cost.

Paro – Bangkok – Paris – Prague - Brussels – Bangkok - Paro- 2 Pax

The rates quoted should be submitted to this office on or before 28th May, 2012 by 12:30PM. The tenders will be opened on the same day at 2:30PM in presence of the interested bidders or their representatives. Preference shall be given to the cheapest and the most direct route.

Director

Draft Survey & Mapping Report

Limited logging of tsenden advisedSuch action must be taken to conserve natural cypress forests in the kingdom

Samten YeShi

Completely restricting logging of natural tsenden (cypress) forests until its dynamics is completely understood could be one way to conserve its natural growth.

This suggestion came out yesterday, during a discussion on the draft tsenden survey and mapping report by Ugyen Wang-chuk Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE).

One obvious threat is ex-cessive logging of tsenden for construction and renovation of dzongs and monasteries in the country, according to Thinley Wangdi, a research officer with UWICE, who headed the tsend-en survey and mapping team. “There are about 2002 sacred structures, according to some records,” he said.

Cypress logs are preferred for building and renovation of traditional structures like dzongs because its height and girth with durability make it most suitable to be used as main beams and pillars.

A participant pointed out that huge number of big natural

tsenden trees in Wangduepho-drang was felled for the renova-tion of Punakha and Paro dzongs. “I think we need some measure to protect such big natural tsend-en trees from felling,” she said.

Forest fire, cattle grazing and low seed vitality are other factors threatening the conservation of tsenden forest according to the report.

“We also came across illegally felled tsenden for domestic use at Nyichuphug, Wangduepho-drang,” Thinley Wangdi said. It is also most sought by the locals for making altars and other house holds items. “Even today the Tsenden shingles could be most preferred roofing material for any one who cannot afford CGI sheets,” the report states.

Tsenden has been endan-gered in the wild and today the tsenden can only be found in re-mote and difficult to reach places according to Thinley.

“We didn’t see much regen-eration of natural tsenden for-est,” he said, indicating that the regeneration of natural tsenden forest is low.

Poor management planning for sustainable harvesting and lack of information on tsenden

Forests and its dynamics was an-other threat, while competition from blue pine in logged areas, and some natural death of tsend-en, which could be a dieback, was also observed.

According to the survey report natural tsenden occurs within 1800m to 2900m above sea level on the steep rocky slopes in remote parts of Punakha, Wang-duephodrang, Lhuentse and Trashigang.

“The distribution spectrum

for the planted tsenden is wider than the naturally grown tsenden forests, which can be recorded as low as 300m above seal level in Phuentsholing,” the report states.

A tsenden plantation project was launched in 2010, covering 102.36 hectares, with the budget of Nu12.25M from Bhutan trust fund for environmental conserva-tion (BTEC).

Detailed inventory and assessment of tsenden stock, continuation of regeneration

trial study for native tsenden, taxonomic and genetic studies, and analysis of tsenden timber demand for construction and renovation of important monu-ments are recommended, among a few others.

The report was presented in conference hall of the Depart-ment of Forest (DoF) in Thimphu yesterday, with participants from various agencies involved in natu-ral conservation.

UWICE

Illegally felled: A tsenden log sawed for planks in Nyichhuphug

Photo: UWICE

Printed and published by Kuensel Corporation Limited, PO Box 204, Tel: 975-2-322483/324688, Fax: 975-2-322975, www.kuenselonline.com ISSN 0259 1499

12 SPORTS *WednesdayMay 16, 2012KUENSEL

Weather forecast for today:

Dzongkhag Max Min OutlookThimphu 24 13 Bumthang/Chamkhar 22 10Kanglung/Trashigang 25 14Bhur/Sarpang 30 22

For Thimphu:Sunrise : 5:12AM Sunset : 6:43PM

Source: Meteorology HMSD/DOE/MOEA

16 May , 2012

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Picture story A friendly game was played between the national basketball team and Dallas Southwestern University team from the United States at the Royal Thimphu College yesterday. Despite good competition from the local teams, the foreigners won the game beating the men team 56-49 and the women 64-50. The actual match will take place today from 6 pm onwards at the RTC court.

IPL standings 2012(16 May)

May 27: Final Winner