April 30: The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Prime Minister Loynchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley jointly laid the foundation stones of the Punatsangchhu phase II and Mangdechhu Hydroelectric projects today.

The implementation agreements of the Punatsangchhu II and Mangdechhu Hydroelectirc projects were signed by the Indian External Affairs Minister, S. M. Krishna, and the Minister In-Charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk. The agreement was signed in presence of the Prime Minister, Loynchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley and his Indian counterpart, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Following the signing, the two Prime Ministers jointly laid the foundation stones for the projects.

The construction of the 990 Megawatt (MW) Punatsangchhu II Project is expected to cost over Nu. 37 billion. Construction will begin from 2011 and is expected to be complete by 2016.

For the 720 MW Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project, construction is expected to cost over Nu. 28 billion and is also expected to take off from 2011 and complete by 2016.

The Government of India has committed over Nu. 20 billion as grant for the projects. The remaining will be taken as loan.

The project implementation agreements of the two projects were finalized during the 7th Authoritative meeting of Punatsangchhu-l Hydropower project in New Delhi earlier this Paro.

A bright future for Medicine

The Prime Ministers of Bhutan and India also laid the foundation stone for the establishment of Bhutan Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS). The comprehensive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capacity building project named as “Chiphen Rigpel: Enabling a society, empowering a Nation” was also launched jointly by the two Prime Ministers.

“Chiphen Rigpel: Enabling a Society, Empowering a Nation” is a comprehensive ICT capacity building project undertaken by the government.

The  Nu. 2.05 billion Chiphen Rigphel project is funded by the Government of India. It is expected to benefit all sections of the Bhutanese society including civil servants, teachers, students, rural communities and the private sector. The project will also focus on enabling e-governance and employment skills, managing e-waste and empowering teachers.

The BIMS will be established at a cost of Nu. 250 million. Once complete, the institute is expected to address shortage of doctors in the country.

It will be an apex central institute in Bhutan for medical education, research and patient care. The institute will provide undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in medicine and other related sciences.  It is expected to complete by next year and will take in 50 students every year.