In an attempt to improve the capabilities of Bhutan’s hydro-power industry, the government decided to set up a public construction company responsible for high capacity projects as well as upgrade the capacities of the Construction Development Corporation, which supplies the government with construction equipment1.

During the recent visit to Bhutan by the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, Mr. Shyam Saran, both countries discussed the possibilities of enhancing cooperation in the field of agricultural research to develop crops resistant to climate change, among other goals2.

Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Vincent H. Pala told Parliament that India and Bhutan have constituted a Joint Group of Experts (JGE) and a Joint Technical Team (JTT) on flood management to assess the probable causes and effects of floods and land erosion in the southern foothills of Bhutan3.

In other developments, a joint sitting of the Parliament decided that Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) would not be given administrative independence, in order to prevent any possibility of corruption4. Reports noted that four cases of H1NI virus have been detected so far in the country5.

• 1. “Reform to encourage specialisation, mechanisation, joint ventures and removal of classification barriers,” The Kuensel, July 27, 2009, at http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13072
• 2. “Towards a common stand on climate change,” The Kuensel, July 30, 2009, at http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13095
• 3. “Indo-Bhutan Joint Technical Team on flood management,” Press Information Bureau, July 29, 2009, at http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51158
• 4. “No administrative powers for RBP,” Bhutan Broadcasting Corporation, July 27, 2009, at http://www.bbs.com.bt/No%20administrative%20powers%20for%20RBP.html
• 5. “Swine flu in Bhutan, 4 test positive,” Press Trust of India, July 23, 2009, at http://www.ptinews.com/news/189686_Swine-flu-in-Bhutan--4-test-positive