October 16: The Construction of Chhukha Dzong is expected to be complete well before the deadline. The new dzong is scheduled to be complete by the end of next year.

Chhukha could have a dzong as early by 2010 a year before the scheduled date of completion.

If the current pace of progress is maintained construction will be complete by the end of 2009. 60 percent of the total construction works have been completed so far.

The project Manager told BBS, once the structures are in place, the interior works will not take long. Some 220 craftsmen are being employed by the project.

The dzong which is being built over an area of 10 acres will be a three level structure with four overlooking towers. It will house the Dratshang, Dzongkhag administrative block and the judiciary.

The main constraint faced by the project is the unavailability of raw materials. For instance the wooden materials for pillars are being brought from places as far as Buli in Zhemgang.

The new dzong has a unique curved exterior. This take more time as it requires skilled hands and precise measurement. Stones need to be manually chipped top acquire right size and angle.

The construction of the new dzong started in 2001 until 2003. Works remained stalled for some two and half years after concerns were raised on the stability of land. It was not until then the works resumed.

So far around Nu. 120 million have been spent on the construction. The total estimate of the expense is expected to be around Nu. 250 million, an increase of over Nu. 100 million. The initial projected budget was around Nu. 140 million.