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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

15th NCCHS

The 15 NatioNal CoNsulta-tive Committee oN humaN

settlemeNt was held on 13 April 2016 in the ministry. It reviewed and approved three urban devel-opment plans viz. Jomotshangkha Urban Development Plan, Gasa

Urban Development Plan and Gyalposhing Development Plan, and three structure plans viz. Gelephu Structure Plan, Kabesa structure plan and Trashiyangtse structure plan.

With respect to the above de-velopment plans and structure plans following decisions were

made:1. Dzongkhags and Thromdes

should develop Local Area Plans for the approved struc-ture plans. The ministry will provide necessary technical support as required.

2. Investment planning should be carried out for plans ready for implementation. It will help to make realistic budget propos-als and mobilize resources to smoothly implement the plans.

3. All forms of media should be used to create awareness and disseminate information on plans. The ministry will in-

HUMAN SETTLEMENT

INSIDE STORY

4 National Transport

2 Nganglam

5 WSD Upgradation

7 Bridge Inauguration

4 Sanitation and Hygiene

3 Slope management

2 Wangdue2 Paro

6 Haa Chudzom Widening6 Bridge Reconstruction

5 India Water Week, 2016

Human Settlement

Policy

Water

Inauguration

དཔལ་ལྡན་འབྲུ་ུགཞུ་་། ཞཞབ་་ཏུ་་ན་་ུ་།ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTANMINISTRY OF WORKS AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT

thimphu: bhutan“Construction Industry: Solution Through Innovation and Improved Technology”

Volume 5: Issue III www.mowhs.gov.bt April-June 2016

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 1

From Page 1

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

volve in the process to provide national perspec-tive on urban development policies

General comments1. The Ministry will develop policies/standards for

those settlements which neither falls under Dz-ongkhag Thromdey nor Yenla Throm such as Kabesa, Debsi, Gedu, Gola Bazzar, Wamrong etc.

2. Minimize proposing development activities in the plans that will require land substitution

3. Development Control Regulation should promi-nently emphasize protection of wetland and cul-tural heritage.

4. Propose for minimal mixed land use to prevent adverse social impact. A guideline of permissible

commercial activities should be specified.

5. Maintain consistency in the precinct classifica-tion.

6. Use degree rather than percentage to maintain consistency in the slope definition

7. User Acre as standard unit of measurement for land

8. Thromdes should keep database of all assets in-cluding underground infrastructure. The database should be shared with relevant stakeholders.

On 6 April 2016 the Draft Wangdue Struc-tural Plan was presented to the officials of Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag Administra-tion by the Department of Human Settlement. 119 plot owners and 26 representatives from the Government Civil Service, Agencies, Or-ganizations and Corporations attended by pre-sentation. It was chaired by Hon’ble Zhabtog Lyonpo.

The Urban Development Plan and a Local Area Plan was contracted jointly to M/s Rad-ical Infraventures India Private Limited and M/s Bhutan Urban Development and Engi-neering Services.

Wangdue Phodrang

Public consultation meeting on 2nd draft re-gional hub structural plan and 1st draft LAP for Nganglam Regional Hub was presented on 27th June, 2016 in Nganglam. The meeting was chaired by Dasho Dzongrab and officiat-ing Dasho Drungpa (DFO) supported by of-ficials from Department of Human Settlment, MoWHS.

The structural plan and one Local Area Plan is prepared by M/s.RADICAL Infraventure Pvt. Ltd. in association with M/s Bhutan Ur-ban Development and Engineering Service

Nganglam

The sencond draft Paro Valley Development

Plan was presented to the ministry and stake-

holders by United Consultancy on 11th May,

2016. The Geptey Local Area Plan preparation

has been deferred as land details are not avail-

able due to ongoing second round of re-cadas-

tral survey.

Paro

On 27 May, 2016 stakeholder consultation on the draft Punakha Urban Development Plan was held by Department of Human Settlement in the ministry’s conference hall to stakehold-ers. Then on 27 May final Punakha Urban De-velopment Plan and Local Area Plan was pre-sented to the people of Punakha dzongkhag.

The plan is developed by UNITED Con-sultancy in collaboration with Department of Human Settlement.

Punakha

PublicConsultation

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 2

The departmeNt of roads carried out the Master plan Study on Road Slope Management Project

in Bhutan under Japan’s technical cooperation proj-ect assisted by JICA. The project started from July, 2014 to august, 2016. A group of 12 engineers from the department formed the core working group with the JICA team.

The project aimed to mitigate road slope disas-

ters to ensure safe and reliable road connectivity by identifying vulnerable road slopes and proposing correct and timely treatment.

The specific outputs of the Project were as follows:1. Slope Disaster Management Inspection and Di-

agnosis Manual:

2. The road slopes were inspected thoroughly and manual for diagnosing the defects was created. This will help the department in managing the fragile slopes and rate the road slopes based on a common platform.

3. Developed road slope inventory and slope karte

4. An inventory of road slopes like all other furni-ture/assets of the roads was developed. Along with the slope inventory, slope karte, where it cat-alogues countermeasures for any particular type of slopes was also developed.

5. Disaster management database developed.The database on road slopes and web based road condition information can be viewed by the pub-lic. This is one of the prominent outcome of the project.

6. The final workshop was held on 10th June 2016. The aim of the workshop was to highlight the technical transfer of the inspection techniques for road slope disaster by the engineers of the De-partment of Roads. The workshop was attended by all the engineers from the department of roads, other relevant ministries and Project DANTAK.

Through this project, three workshops and 15 seminars were conducted.

Road Slope Management

ROAD SAFETY

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 3

With the rapid urbanization and increasing number of towns, the need to address the ur-

ban sanitation has become urgent. It is predicted that by 2020 around half the population will live in urban areas (BNUS 2008). The need is further accentuated with the declaration of 16 New Dzongkhag throms and 20 Yenlag Thromdes. The Water and Sanitation

Division (WSD) in collaboration with SNV Bhutan has conducted a study on sanitation, reviewing all the existing instruments. The study has identified numerous gaps and has strongly recommended for a

separate policy on Sanitation. Therefore the Policy and Planning Division (PPD), MoWHS in collabo-ration with WSD has presented the concept note to Cabinet which was approved on 1st June 2016. PPD and WSD are currently exploring fund from various donor agencies and drafting ToR for consultant re-cruitment. Ministry of Health who is mandated with rural sanitation has already formulated their draft Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Policy. However, the rural and urban policy will be integrated together into one National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy as it is not justifiable to have two separate policies on sanitation for a small country like ours.

National Transport Policy

Sanitation and Hygiene Policy

SANITATION

Two rouNds of meeting, one on 5 April, and an-other on 9 May, was held between Ministry of

Works and Human Settlement and Ministry of In-formation and Communications to discuss on the need to pursue a holistic Transport Policy. The need for a holistic transport policy was felt due to its lack-ing in the existing Transport Policy 2006. It was fur-ther reinforced by the frequent traffic jams and con-gestions in the Thimphu. As per the directive of the government a multi-sectoral task force was formed

to address the congestions.The performance of the transport management

has been affected as the roles and responsibilities are distributed among many agencies with conflict-ing laws and regulations. MoWHS is the custodian of the Road Act 2013 and primarily involved in con-struction of national highways whereas MoIC is the custodian of the Transport Policy 2006, and Road Safety and Transport ACT 1999.

To this effect, the organization development ex-ercise had recommended to integrate RSTA office with Department of Roads under MoWHS to bring together two vital surface transport agencies for bet-ter management and performance. But, the integra-tion is deferred until the revision of the RSTA Act, 1999.

The second transport coordination meeting decid-ed to have just one holistic transport policy and one strategic master plan to implement the policy. All

inconsistencies in the existing legal instruments in-cluding Road Act 2013, are to be addressed during the revision of the RST Act 1999. MoIC together with support of GNHC is to expedite the drafting of an inclusive and sustainable transport policy by the end of 2016. The mandate of the multi-sector committee instituted to submit a proposal on decon-gesting Thimphu is expanded to discuss cross-sec-tor transport issues in a holistic manner. Given the strong synergy between the Human Settlement Planning and Transport, the meeting agreed to in-clude Director, Department of Human Settlement as member to the National Transport Coordination Committee as initially submitted by MoWHS.

As per the decision the Terms of Reference of the Trasnport Coordination Committee has been drafted and submitted to government by MoIC.

TRANSPORT

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 4

India Water Week

WSD upgradation to DepartmentThe miNistry is proposing to up-

grade Water and Sanitation Divi-sion into a Department. Currently, wa-ter and sanitation mandate is divided across many agencies and most prominently between the Ministry of Works & Human Settlement (MoW-HS) and Ministry of Health (MoH). The WSD looks after water and san-itation in urban areas while ministry of health looks after it in rural areas.

The need for a single dedicated water and sanitation entity in the country was

discussed in many meetings and confer-

ences in the past. The recent OD exercise of MoW-HS had pointed out lack of a lead agency to holisti-cally spearhead development of water and sanitation sector. It recommended to transfer the rural water supply and sanitation mandate from health ministry to works and settlement ministry. The cabinet did not approve the proposal in view of the provisions laid under the Water Act. But the ministry was di-rected to submit a separate proposal for establishing a department.

The proposal has been discussed with Royal Civil Service Commission. If endorsed the proposal will be submitted to the cabinet for approval.

A delegatioN led by Hon’ble Lyonpo, attended the “India Water Week - 2016” in Delhi which

commenced from 4 April 2016.The highlights of the Forum was sharing and

demonstrating success stories on water conserva-tion, technology innovations and management ef-ficiencies through technical sessions, exhibitions

and films. On the sidelines of the Forum, Lyonpo participated at the Ministers’ Conclave chaired by H.E. Uma Bharti on country specific experiences and common issues and challenges. Ministerial lev-el representation from countries in Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia along with Ministers from State Governments in India as well as NGO’s and

private sector participated in the Forum. Lyonpo was invited as the Guest of

Honour at the opening of the “Water Film Festival” on 6 April in presence of H.E. Uma Bharti. Lyonpo deliv-ered the keynote address.

H.E. Arun Jaitley, Union Fi-nance Minister, Government of India was the Chief Guest who graced the inauguration along with H.E. Uma Bharti, Union Minister of Water Resourc-es, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.

Apart from the events of the forum, the delegation met with the management and staff of WAPCOS Limited and officials of the Construction Industry Develop-ment Council, both of which have close col-laboration with Bhu-tan.

Lyonpo was accom-panied by officials from the National Environment Commission, the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement and the Royal Bhutanese Embas-sy, New Delhi.

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 5

Three bridges were inaugurated by Hon’ble Zhabtog Lyonpo on 29 April 2016, in the pres-

ence of Mr. Shri Pieyush Gupta, Consulate General

of India. It was attended by Member of Parliament of Zhemgang Dzongkahg, local government officals and local people.

moroNgaNg zamSpan: 34 metersType: Steel CompositeLoad: 100 MT (IRC-70R)Cost: 23.905 million

gramlaNg zamSpan: 24 metersType: RCC Deck GirderLoad: 100 MT (IRC-70R)Cost: 7.216 million

daraNg zamSpan: 34 metersType: Steel CompositeLoad: 100 MT (IRC-70R)Cost: 21.589 million

Groundbreaking ceremony of Haa-Chuzom road widening

Inauguration of Bridges on Gomphu Panbang Highway

The grouNdbreakiNg CeremoNy for the widen-ing of the Chuzom-Haa road took place on 2

June, 2016 at Neymo in Naja gewog, Paro. Zhabtog

Lyonpo, with Border Roads Organisation director general Lt General Suresh Sharma, AVSM, inaugu-rated the event.

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 6

A B

B

C

C

NikaChhu zam

45.0m span and 7.0m widezalamChu zam

46.5m span and 7.0m wideChhuzomsa zam

47.5m span and 7.0m wide

A

The grouNdbreakiNg CeremoNy for the recon-struction of Chuzomsa, Nikachhu and Zalamch-

hu bridges on Wangdue-Trongsa highway was held on 29 May, 2016, coinciding with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Japan. The reconstruction is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)at

the cost of Nu. 1.2 billion.The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by

Zhabtog Lynpo and JICA chief representative, Koji Yamada. The ceremony was presided over by Lam Neten of Wangdue Dzongkhag Rabdey.

Groundbreaking Ceremony of Three Bridges

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 7

published by:

Policy and Planning DivisionMinistry of Works and Human SettlementThimphu: Bhutan

www.mowhs.gov.bt

PICTURESTORY

Quaterly Newsletter Ministry of Works and Human Settlement 8