DPT govt sees delayed development activities

Thimphu, February 13, 2009: The latest trend has reflected promises of development given by the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa during the election period are unlikely to go smoothly. Major construction projects face hurdles in the middle. 

The proposed site for construction of Supreme Court building

One of the major project – Nu 455 million ministers’ quarters in Motithang – were planned to get erected by end 2008 but critics says it may take one more year and voices begun to come up for penalizing the contractors.

The blame game continues between the government and the contractors. Contractors blame government for not handing over the ready-made doors and windows ordered from Malayasia while government officials say the contractors will be punished for the delay. The doors and windows, which were to be handed to the contractors by October 2007 were done in September 2008.

A total of eight contractors – 4 class A and 4 class B – were awarded the construction work on May 2007 for 20 double-storied buildings. The delayed changes in the design and layout of the quarters and re-tender process delayed the construction, constructors say.

Similarly, the Nu 129 million construction project for Royal Bhutan Police family quarters in Thimphu has come under the scrutiny of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) after hints of several lapses in the award of bids including forgery and sub-letting discovered.

Initially, the proposal of the Druk Chapcha Constructions to finish the project at Nu 84 million was cancelled saying the evaluation of the bid was flawed.

ACC has already ordered to terminate the construction of the RBP family quarters in Tashigatshel in Chhukha and Tsirang, and the expansion of the Chief of Police’s residence, worth a total Nu 45 million on allegations that construction companied submitted forged documents.

DPT chief and PM Thinley

Several construction projects in the districts, construction of the Supreme Court building in Thimphu, building infrastructure and shifting of the old towns to new planned sites have been delayed or halted, indicating that development works would continue to derail under forgery and bribery.