Bhutan

Last Nu 33M for last lap, Thorthormi Mitigation

Last Nu 33M for last lap, Thorthormi Mitigation

That also marks the end of the four-year project that began since 2009, the year the real mitigation works began at the lake site, although mobilizing equipment and tools required for engineering and excavation works at the site began since 2008. So far this year, the lake mitigation team has been able to reduce the water levels by 3.68m.

The total budget outlay of Nu 33M for 2012-2013, project manager Dowchu Dukpa said has been approved and would be distributed within different activities of procurement of equipment and rations, hiring of workers and insurance, transportation charges to glacial lake outburst flood project workshops and trainings.

"Since we had sufficient justification for extension, the program was extended until mid June next year," he said, adding the justification they provided were that of the four years, one whole year was spent in assessing the lake for the project. "Therefore, the need for a year to engage in the real mitigation works," he said. "This time we are hoping to achieve our target since we have enough budget."

The four-year mitigation project on the Thorthormi lake was supposed to end coming June this year. The project spent about Nu 85M of the total 130M allocated for the mitigation works. The latest year-wise expenditure for 2011-2012 was more than Nu 18M as opposed to more than Nu 34M for the 2010-2011. The significant difference in the amounts for the different years, Dowchu Dukpa said was as a result of varying work duration.

"Between 2010 and 2011 the work was being conducted for almost three months from July to October," he said. "Whereas, in 2011-2012 we worked for only two and a half months, from August to mid October."

Although the team might reduce the water level of the lake by 5m, Dawchu Dukpa said this was no guarantee that the settlements along valleys down stream of the lake will be secure.

"Which is why we've identified evacuation sites and placed early warning systems in these vulnerable places," he said.

Valleys that thrive from the nourishment the Thorthormi lake-fed river provided for agriculture on either of its bank, like those of Punakha, Wangduephodrang and Chamkhar. Settlements closer to the banks on either side of the river, he said, were marked as red zone, those near its boundary marked yellow while those away from these zones were safe. Global Environment Fund, Least Developed Country Fund, UN Development Program and Austrian Development Corporation funded the project.

-          As sourced from Kuensel http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=27704