Bardo still in Bardo

One of Bhutan’s most remote and backward gewog, Bardo is still the poetic imagery of its namesake which translates to ‘the intermediate state between life and rebirth’.

The gewog even now doesn’t have road connectivity or electricity.

Nevertheless, 9 schemes of Rural Water Supply Scheme (RWSS) have been completed while two new Lhakhangs are under construction for which the cost estimate is more than Nu 5.5mn.

The budget for…

NCDs account for huge loss of lives and huge expenditure

About 250mn people in the South East Asia Region (SEAR) are Smokeless Tobacco (ST) users, this statistical data was presented at the ‘Regional Tobacco Control Program Managers Meeting,’ in Thimphu last July.

Among women, ST use is more prevalent than smoking in most of the SEAR countries except in Nepal. Tobacco Control is one measure to control Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

The WHO…

Wild boar rescued by forest officials

Human Wildlife Conflict is a common problem in Bumthang dzongkhag and the most visible pests are the wild pigs and the Himalayan black bear.

A farmer from Jalikhar village which falls within municipal boundary visited the forest office to request permit for poles. On verification for his usage of poles he gave the genuine reason that a wild boar was caught in a trap.

The trap…

Pangkhar Previews Shortage of Medicines

People of the community fear if Goshing community and Dikala Project workers continue to visit Pangkhar’s Basic Health Unit (BHU), pretty soon, it will run short of supply.

Gewog Gup Rinchen Lungten said there would be shortage of medicine in future as government supply is proportionate to existing population and cannot suffice if people from other gewogs visit the same BHU.

“People from Goshing who reside along…

Flash flood threatening the lives of villagers

Three houses are on the verge of collapse due to continuous rain and flashfloods at Dahap village under Geling gewog in Chhukha dzongkhag.

Incessant rain for three days from 15-17 July, had swollen-up the stream which flows near the three houses and weakened them.

The house owners are advised by the gewog officials to stay out of their houses until the monsoon is over. This…

Human-wildlife conflict

Human wild life conflict has always been a problem for far flung areas where there is no electricity and road connectivity.

“Five households have lost five acres of maize to Wild boar,”  said  Gup Nidup. He said, he is not sure as to where to lodge a complaint with regard to this.

“There is nothing we can do when such losses are upon us,” he said. “It is plantation time…

Electricity and Road facilities left on the Way

The time-period for the road repairs and damage repairs to install electrical structures, following the recent flood, could be prolonged till next year in Laya.

The works to set-up structures for electrical wirings in Khamaed gewog was disrupted by flood and landslides in Khamaed gewog under Gasa dzongkhag.

The actual deadline to complete the road construction was 2012, but it was further postponed to…

Proposals for the 11th five year plan 

The Gewog has completed about 88% of development works for the 10th Five Year Plan.

Recently Rural Water Supply Scheme (RWSS) works were completed and the only pending works include the maintenance of a Nye in Bukey.

For the 11th five year plan of 2013, the proposals are underway such as 25 kms of farm roads, one or two maintenance in RWSS, cultural works such…

Many water sources, but no water

Due to scanty water-supply Tsenkhar community has resorted to periodical distribution of water for paddy cultivation

Although the gewog’s staple crop is maize, majority of the gewog residents have cultivated paddy for self-consumption and commercial purposes.

Gup Tsheten Wangdi said the water was distributed time-to-time through three different water sources. He said that water from Khaybachhu is distributed to Domkhar and Umling chiwog.

Water from Barchhu is…

Cordyceps collection declines

This year the quantity of cordyceps has declined, but if it’s any consolation the quality is excellent compared to the last year.

In the Soe community after a month’s duration of cordyceps collection, people returned home with just a handful of it.

Soe Gup Kencho Dorji said the value of cordyceps would increase as the quality is good.

“Highest amount of cordyceps collected in our gewog was 250 gms while…