DPT President Refutes Claim On Privatizing Hydropower Projects

Scion Industrial Engineering

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) president Pema Gyamtsho has refuted allegation of privatizing hydropower projects in the country.

During his tour in Chhukha and Samtse last week, Pema Gyamtsho said privatizing hydropower projects is nowhere mentioned in their party’s manifesto.

He explained that the party has promised to promote private sectors’ participation, but not privatize the hydropower construction projects.

“It is totally false and promoting false news which is untrue,” he said, adding that the party, if it forms the government, however will look into the possibility of allocating the development of micro hydropower plants, but not the mega ones, to the private sector.

“That will also happen if the community and the private companies are genuinely interested and we will explore the possibility. With the inability and the lack of capacities, the country’s private sector is still too incompetent to start the country’s mega hydropower projects,” he added.

DPT president said the privatization would also undermine the bilateral agreements made between the two governments of Bhutan and India and India who has funded the projects till now. “We have only promised to involve private sectors in micro projects,” he said.

He also said that the party, if it forms the government, will expedite the construction of mega power projects which are ongoing. Also the party will start three other hydropower projects.

Hydropower being the primary source of national revenue, the president assured to expedite ongoing hydropower projects and start new projects if the party comes to power.

“Bunakha and Wangchhu hydropower projects in Chhukha will also get started in collaboration with the Indian government. It’s already in the plan and we will work with the Indian government,” Pema Gyamtsho said.

The DPT president also assured development of the Gedu town by promoting tourism in the country.

“The party has already charted plans and policies to promote regional tourists where Gedu will be benefitted the most by offering meals for the travelers. If rules are made clear keeping in mind the security of the nation, we can promote tourism and develop towns,” he added.

Also, DPT has a plan to set up a technical institute in Gedu if the party comes to power. Apart from these, the party, if it wins, will continue to focus on providing farm roads and medical services and addressing drinking water shortage problems in the country.

“The previous governments have done and we will continue providing necessary facilities, which is our priority,” he said, assuring that the party will work towards making the country self reliant by 2025.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa president Lotay Tshering reaches Trongsa yesterday to campaign for the general round of the third parliamentary elections yesterday.

Source:http://www.businessbhutan.bt/businessbhutan/dpt-president-refutes-claim-on-privatizing-hydropower-projects/

ShaMa Foundation Reaches Rural Bhutan

Scion Industrial Engineering

ShaMa foundation, an international, non – profit organization dedicated to social welfare, education, and health care, which has been active since 2015, and was incorporated in 2018 initiated Shudh Program in Bhutan last year, in June 2017.

The program aims to provide access to safe drinking water in remote and challenging geographies and also strives to achieve this through installation of clean water storage tanks supported by water purifiers.

Shudh Program also aims to minimize water-borne infections caused by contaminated drinking water. Projects under the program are supporting communities in far-flung areas by providing them access to safe drinking water and thereby protecting young children from healthcare issues.

Shudh Program was initiated based on the inputs received from the community; along with that the foundation also came across news articles as how adverse weather conditions during summer and monsoon season impacted the water source of some rural communities.

The foundation received requests from multiple schools that were in urgent need of water purifiers to safeguard their students’ health as their water source had been contaminated due to weather conditions; this initiated the rapid roll out of Shudh Program.

Shudh Program have executed around 20 projects and equipped schools, Extended Class Rooms (ECRs), Early Childhood Care and Development Centres (ECCDs) with facilities as per specific needs of the location – like Gravity Water Purifiers, Electric Water Purifiers, Water Storage Tanks with up to 1000l capacity, along with plumbing supplies.

Shudh Program has supported communities across 10 dzongkhags (Chukha, Dagana, Lhuentse, Mongar, Pema Gatshel, Samtse, Sarpang, Trashiyangtse, Trongsa, and Wangduephodrang).

The foundation is running programs in the developing and under – developed world, supporting people living in challenging geographies and remote terrains with limited support infrastructure. It has active presence in Bhutan, India, Suriname and the United States.

ShaMa Foundation communicates through social media with community members like teachers, local administration, social entrepreneurs and start-ups. RFS (Request For Support) received from community is shared with the Team of Volunteers in Thimphu, who reaches out to the Initiator of the RFS.

The cause is supported by social networks across large multinational corporations across India, Europe and US. Shudh Program has four other programs (Swach, Saraswati, Sanjeevani, Sampark).

Currently, ShaMa Foundation had started a new pilot project “Village Hub” under the umbrella of Sampark Program which is established at Gangla village under Khoma gewog in Lhuentse. The program has one single room at the ground floor of a two storey house which is equipped with water purifier, LED lights, games like carrom board, ludo, chess, chinese checkers; and a library nook.

This special multi-year pilot is focused on gradually introducing more and more facilities in the rural areas, and assessesing its impact on rural-urban migration over time.

Source:http://www.businessbhutan.bt/businessbhutan/shama-foundation-reaches-rural-bhutan/

COMO – Uma Punakha Named Best Hotel In Asia

Scion Industrial Engineering

In what are truly mammoth achievements for COMO Hotels and Resorts, COMO Uma Punakha was awarded the third best hotel in the world, while COMO Uma Punakha and COMO Uma Paro in Bhutan were awarded the first and second place respectively in the ‘Best Hotel in Asia’ category.

This is as per the results of the 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards of Condé Nast Traveler which was announced last week. The winners were chosen from responses from nearly half a million Condé Nast Traveler readers, who submitted a recording-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences to provide a full snapshot of where and how we travel today.

COMO Uma Bhutan’s General Manager James Low reportedly said these were among the most significant awards in their 25-year history for COMO Hotels and Resorts.

“We have just 29 rooms at COMO Uma Paro, and 11 at COMO Uma Punakha. An award this size for properties this intimate recognises the heart of the matter in modern luxury tourism: people remember what changes them, not just what indulges them. That makes me immensely proud — for the integrity of the brand and its deep engagement with Bhutanese culture, from food to interior design. Above all, it recognises the passion shown by our staff, who consistently shine in their one-one-one engagement with every guest as they share their magnificent country. That’s the COMO difference: travel to Bhutan with COMO, and our highly trained butlers and drivers escort you through every part of this Himalayan mountain experience,” he added.

Meanwhile, COMO The Treasury in Perth also won recognition in the 2018 awards as it was awarded the first place in the Best Hotel in Australia and New Zealand category for the third year in a row. In the Resorts category, COMO Uma Ubud was awarded the second Best Resort in Asia.

Headquartered in Singapore, COMO Hotels and Resorts offers personalized luxury travel experiences at its urban hotels, island resorts, adventure retreats and wellness resorts through individualized service, commitment to holistic wellness and award-winning cuisine. It has 14 luxury properties around the globe in destinations including Bhutan, Turks and Caicos, Miami, Indonesia, Australia, the UK and the Maldives.

Meanwhile, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel”.

Source:http://www.businessbhutan.bt/businessbhutan/como-uma-punakha-named-best-hotel-in-asia/