Good News! Wangchu Hydro Power Project Stalled

I am encouraged by the news that the 570MW Wangchu HPP is stalled because of the unreasonable demand put forward by India’s Adani Group. I am encouraged for two reasons:

1. This clearly shows that our present breed of negotiating team is maturing and knows a lopsided deal

        when they see one; and

2. With this, I am hopeful that instead of the planned hydro power project, we can now consider doing

         the Bunakha Reservoir Project in its place.

No doubt there is an urgent need to upscale our energy production given the quantum jump in our domestic consumption. But why is it necessary that we have to take the hydroelectric route? The government is already on to the job – through the solar energy route. While we are aware that solar energy is not the solution to our long-term goals, this will do just fine as a stop-gap arrangement. While it will meet our immediate and urgent needs, even if at a higher per unit cost of production, it will give us time to choose and settle on a partner that is more reasonable and level headed than our current choice. For all the hoopla surrounding India’s Adani Group, clearly their astuteness falls far short of their overblown reputation.

For years I have been going hoarse crying out loud that we do the Bunakha Reservoir Project. Doing the Bunakha Reservoir Project has whole lot of advantages over doing the Wangchu Hydropower Project.

• It will feed the Tala and Chhukha projects downstream during the lean months. Water flow during the winter months is supposed to be so bad that it is rumored that last year we imported a whopping US$23.00 million worth of electricity from India. Imagine the shame!! – for a country who boasts of abundant/surplus energy.
• It will be an effective flood control and water management measure for the Bengali Babus downstream;
• It will create a water storage facility in the face of increasing water scarcity brought on by global warming. At some point soon, we will have to start to think of water storage – our traditional sources are drying up which is evident from water shortages reported across the country – both for drinking, as well as for irrigation; and
• It will be lot cheaper than doing the hydro project. May be even our own Bhutanese business houses can finance the project!

Let us not allow anyone to negotiate with us from a position of strength. We are looking for a partner – not a greedy marauder!

The Man Who Overrode His Boss

I knew Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba from the time I was in the civil service. The news that he is no more comes to me as a matter of great loss - not of sadness.

Following on the footsteps of another incomparable Bhutanese - Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering - the nation has a reason for deep mourning - because God no longer creates men like them and their contemporaries - Lyoenchen JYT, Lyonpo Khandu and few others - they are/were a breed apart.

My personal knowledge of the man was as a person who possessed that rare and uncommon talent of being able to keep up people’s hope. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, Lyonpo somehow never allowed anyone to go away feeling hopeless. He may never be able to do what is asked of him - but he gave assurance that he would give his best which had a comforting effect on people in need of help. For me personally though - he was a man who had the guts to do what needed to be done.

It was during the mid 1990s when he was the Finance Secretary that there was an incident that left a lasting impression in my heart.

One particular Bhutanese importer had indulged in deflection of dutiable goods to India - meaning that import cargo intended to enter Bhutan never did - it was deflected to Indian market - duty free. Obviously, India objected with customary vehemence - with the result that Bhutan was forced to act firmly - to demonstrate to India that action was being taken.

The action that was taken was that the Ministry of Finance took over the responsibility and the authority - of issuing and signing the Import Licenses - it was earlier in the domain of Royal Bhutan Customs. True to character, the government officials were obviously clueless about the import documentation procedures that was pre-agreed between the GoI and the RGoB.

One of the specified conditions was that the signatory(s) of the Bhutanese authority(s) who signed the Import License should be registered with the Indian Customs in Calcutta. So, it happened that the Finance Ministry took over the authority to issue and sign the Import License - but they forgot about that minor detail about registering the signatures of the new signatories with the Indian Customs - with the result that Import Licenses issued and signed by the Finance Ministry officials got rejected. You can imagine the ensuing problems for the Bhutanese importers!

In the middle of all this mess, I had a problem of my own. I had ordered a sizeable number of container loads of photocopy papers from Malaysia. The goods were fully paid for and the consignment duly loaded on board the ship bound for Calcutta port - Bhutan's designated port of discharge.

I went to the Finance Minister to request for the issue of an Import License for my photocopy papers. He refused pointblank - on the grounds that the Bhutanese businessmen were irresponsible and that we were causing the country great harm!

“But Lyonpo, my cargo is already on the high seas and they have been fully paid for.”

“Nga Meshey - now leave me alone.”

I got out of his office and headed for the Finance Secretary’s office. The PA informed me that the Secretary was having his lunch …. I told her - no problem - please report to him that Q Yeshey is here to see him. As luck would have it …. the Secretary just then happened to stick out his head out of his office - and noticed that I was there ….

 “Wai Yeshey iimbey tey … are you here to see me?”

“Yes Sir … I need to see you.

“Please come in … I am in the middle of my lunch …. Do you want some?”

“Mizhu la … I had mine”

“OK then … what can I do for you”

“I am in need of an Import License for the import of some container loads of photocopy paper but the Finance Minister is adamant that I cannot have it”

“Why”

“He says the Bhutanese business people are tramaship. I would not have bothered – except that the cargo is already on the high seas and I have paid for them 100%”

“Wai, if the Lyonpo has refused you …. Are you asking me to override my boss?”

“Yes Dasho I am asking that --- because your boss has hot stone in his head - he is being irrational. The import documentation requirement may have changed - only to the extent that the Import License will hence forth be issued and signed by the Ministry of Finance. The rules and import procedures have not changed - they remain the same. So, it is unreasonable and unjustified that the Minister finds it necessary to refuse me Import License - just because he is irritated”.

The Secretary thought for a while and said;

“Iimbey mo - you have a point. There is no justification in refusing you. But what if the Lyonpo comes to know and questions me?”

“Please tell him that you were not aware that he had already refused.”

“Haha … this must be a first - that someone overrides his boss. But I believe that I will not be wrong to do it. Beygey tey mosh - I will see what happens!”

Those days, life was truly haphazard …. But the existence of people the likes of late Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba made it tolerable.

In Fulfilment Of A Citizen’s Duty

Hi ………..,

As much as I feel uncomfortable to touch on this subject, I believe that there is no point in pussy-footing around the issue – so I will get on with it promptly.

It is with regard to the extremely rare Bhutanese coin which I came by a while ago. I had told you that the asking price was enormous and that it was beyond my capacity to afford it. Thus, I offered it to you instead. Quite obviously you were interested.

Coin Die of Druk Desi Kitshelpa Dorji Namgyal and some coin varieties of Bhutan's ancient hammered coins

Without beating about the bush, I have to tell you that I had a change of heart since – I have decided that I NEED to buy the piece myself – at any cost!

After I returned home heart-broken that I could not afford the piece --- I continued to brood over the issue nonetheless. At the end, I consoled myself with the truth that no man may possess all that he desires – there are some that he must let go. In any event, I assured myself that I had its image that would do quite nicely for my upcoming book.

Then it hit me: the piece is not merely an extremely rare piece – but Bhutan’s one-of-a-kind national treasure. Its value, I realized, went beyond money. If I could pawn off my soul for the asking price, I would gladly do it. As you are also aware, there is only one another copy of it in existence – but it is anybody’s guess where exactly it is at this time in our history.

Having compared the two known pieces – one featured in your book, and the other from the real stuff that is now in my possession - I am convinced beyond a shred of doubt that the piece is genuinely Bhutanese. That is validated by the numeral “CHIIG” inside the alphabet “CHA” on the obverse of the coin. I would go as far as to say that in all probability, the coin may have been struck from the same die – but using a larger flan. As you know this numeral can be found on the country’s earliest coins – including on the “MA” coin.

I hope you understand that I would be failing in my citizen’s duty if I allow this unique piece to go out of the country. I cannot live with the guilt that I have knowingly allowed a piece of immense cultural and historical value to Bhutan, to be lost forever. I feel that I am duty bound to ensure that the piece remains within the country – thus I need to possess it, at any cost!

Therefore, I would like to inform you that I have scoured the globe for help – to help me buy this unique piece so that I can keep it within the country. I am happy to tell you that I have been able to raise the funding needed – thus I am buying and keeping the piece for myself. Please forgive me. I promise that should another piece surface in my life time – I will be happy to offer it to you. But this one …. I am compelled to save it for the country and the future generations of Bhutanese!

Bye and take care ….. I hope you understand my compulsions.

Yeshey

Of Trees and Water

In recent times, the media – in particular the government mouth pieces: Kuensel and BBS – have tended to go gung-ho over the twin endeavors launched by the Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) and the Mountain Hazelnut Venture (MHV) - to blanket the entire country with tens of millions of trees - both fruiting and none-fruiting.

The BES aims to plant 10,000,000 trees by 2030.

Trees, trees everywhere

Making its initial start from remote Rangshikhar village of Trashigang in October of 2008, MHV’s initial plans were: 11,000,000 exotic hazelnut trees, covering 37,000 acres of degraded and barren land, in 15,000 plantations spread across all 20 Dzongkhags.

Nuts, nuts everywhere

In all fairness, the intensions of the BES and the MHV may be honorable – but have we really understood the long-term implications of these endeavors on the country? Their scope and scale are scary!

Given its nomenclature, BES should be a knowledgeable organization. But have they stopped to weigh the benefits of carbon sequestration – as opposed to ground water loss arising out of their endeavors? Have they considered Bhutan’s current stock of forest stand? Have they considered the following?

• Since 1979 – since close to half a century – there has been a ban on commercial harvesting of trees which has resulted in overstocking of the forests with poor quality trees, in addition to, some say, contributing to ground water depletion, resulting in drying up of springs that have traditionally been our source of drinking water.
  
  
• Available government records suggest that our tree density has increased from 280 trees per ha in 2016 to 377 trees per ha in 2022.
  
  
• The National Forest Inventory 2023 records that there are already 1.008 billion trees in the country. Of these humongous number, 93% of them are said to be growing in densely crowded conditions.
  
  
• One important question – do we have available fertile land (trees don’t grow on infertile lands) to accommodate such numbers of trees? Even if we do, is it beneficial to populate them all with trees, that too with only select species? What of space for other vegetation types – for the sake of bio-diversity which is critical for a healthy ecosystem?
  
  
• Studies show that agriculture land has decreased from 7.7% in 1995 to under 3% presently. Planting trees on agricultural land will further compromise the already compromised national goal of food security.
  
  
• Research indicates that a three-year-old tree can absorb around 10 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide annually. Another research has established that a 400 - 600 cm tall tree will drink up anywhere between 10 – 15 litres of water a day! Of the two, which is more beneficial? Remember: carbon sequestration impacts globally, while ground water depletion impacts locally.
  
  
• And what of the ethical issues surrounding carbon trading? Does it not seem like we are promoting environmental destruction elsewhere on the planet (after 29 COPs, there is clear indication that the state of our planet's environment is deteriorating by leaps and bounds - not improving), while screwing up our own – with doubtful and poorly understood undertakings?

Even more important, it is increasingly becoming clear that we will have to depend on our ground water reserves to supply us water in the future – particularly in rain-scarce countries like Bhutan.

Ice and snow melt – even rain – as sources for recharge of rivers/lakes/springs are likely to prove undependable as global warming escalates unchecked. Thus, it is clear that we will have to be extremely careful about jeopardizing our ground water reserves percolated over many thousand centuries. Looks like ultimately, we may have to depend on them for our safe drinking water.

As for MHV’s hazelnut project, I have already discussed about its impact on the nation – as far back as 2018. A repeat would be an overkill!

Misconceptions, Dogmas and Flogging The Dead Horse

Thank God! it seems like the mainstream media in the country is finally waking up to the despair that Bhutan’s tourism industry is currently going through. That said, I suspect that they are still not clear as to what really is the problem with the country’s most vital industry. The following article in the Kuensel is proof that they need better grounding in the subject.

Calling a sheep a goat

The reporter chooses to use the term “travel agent” while what he actually would have meant is “tour operator”. I doubt that we have any single “travel agent” in Bhutan. Being not of the industry, it is acceptable that he is confusing a goat for a sheep …. But what is tragic is that he suggests that only travel agents in Phuentsholing are impacted. What is true is that the impact is at the national level – not restricted to Phuentsholing only.

Talking of which, I would like to repeat my word of caution once again: Act without delay in correcting the policy misadventures that have been committed in the tourism industry. That small window of opportunity is on the verge of being closed forever. The acts of immorality – the likes of the scam in Taktsang will seem like a half-hearted joke - should we fail to extricate the industry from its current state of stupor. Remember, when the people’s sense of honor and valor are impounded – when the main streets are barricaded - people will begin to resort to walking the lanes and the by-lanes.

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Now, finally, here is someone who has his head screwed-on on the right place!!! Do I dare hope that the Bhutanese people will finally be liberated from the oppressive and illogical dogmas of the pseudo religious lot?

Meating the demand through internal production!

If we accept that we are born meat-eaters, we have a fundamental right to gather food that is God assigned. Food gathering – any food – should be our birth-right! Thus, it is correct that we should be allowed to produce our own meat – safe meat.

Talking of which, it is high time that we do away with this misbegotten rule that imposes a ban on the sale of meat during certain months. We all know that what is achieved by this senseless rule is exactly the opposite of what is intended. And yet, this has gone on for decades. Because of the impending ban, animals are slaughtered many weeks and months before their time. Additionally, since meat becomes unavailable, people resort to stocking meat for long periods of time - a practice that is both medically unsafe and financially burdensome.

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Here we are at it yet again – forever catching the bull by its tail – flogging the same old dead horse!!! I wonder if we will ever be rid of this delusional perception that we can be a player on the world stage? 

Think: If a produce grown few thousand KMs away can be sold cheaper in Bhutan than that which we grow at home, how can you hope to be competitive in the global arena?

Let us admit:

~  We do not have the scale;

~  We have a confused goal – we are uncertain what we want:

    food self-sufficiency or fruit self-sufficiency;

~  Our competition talks of millions of hectors of plantation –

    we talk of few thousand acres spread over mountain tops

    and plunging ravines;

~  We are landlocked – bulk movement of goods is impossible;

~  We are too far removed from the market – our transportation

    cost is too high to be competitive in far-flung markets;

~  Our sense of costing is topsy-turvy;

~  Our government focuses on production - while farmers pine

    for help in marketing and distribution;

~  Worst of all - we are blind to the opportunities that stare in our

    faces at home, while we are starry-eyed in the pursuit of

    none-existent markets beyond borders;

~  The government aspires the agriculture sector to contribute to

    our vision of US$5 billion GDP by 2029 through exports

    of commodities – while a more realistic and attainable

    approach would be to aspire to realize import substitution - at

    double that sum.

It is sad – but that is the way the cookie crumbles. If it helps, I would like to leave you with a beautiful documentary titled “The Economics of Happiness” – we find more than a passing spot in the film. Even better – it makes sense in our situation.

https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/the-economics-of-happiness/

Please watch it to the end – it will take your breath away!