BBSCL

While many youths from the region have moved to urban areas in search of better job opportunities, a few young people have chosen to stay back in Pema Gatshel. Among them is a group of youth dedicated to making Dung and Jaling, which have long been a primary source of income for the local community. 20-year-old Dupden Wangdi is from...

With the rise in Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis or MDR-TB cases, the health ministry has been implementing the latest interventions. A shorter regimen with fewer side effects for MDR-TB started in June last year. So far, 18 people have been treated under the new regimen at the Gidakom Hospital in Thimphu. A regimen is a prescribed course of medical treatment. According to...

In 2023, Bhutan imported 210 million litres or 1.3 million barrels of petrol and diesel. This is according to the Environmental Accounts Statistics, 2024. Diesel imports rose by 43 per cent from 2022, while petrol imports hit a 52 per cent increase. The report reflects a surge in vehicles and industrial activities, potentially straining Bhutan’s foreign reserves and widening the...

Bhutan has exhausted its known coal reserves, according to the Environmental Accounts Statistics 2024 report. Coal extraction peaked at 190,000 tonnes in 2018 and 2019. However, the figure dropped to 70,000 tonnes by 2020. By 2023, no reserves remained. The report notes that while future studies may uncover new sources of coal, there are currently no additional reserves available for...