The Water Resources Coordination Division of National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS) conducted the focused workshop with the faculties of the College of Natural Resources (CNR) and College of Science and Technology (CST) as part of the project ‘Study on Minimum Environmental (E) Flow for Hydropower Projects in Bhutan- Final Phase’ from December 27-29, 2022 in Punakha. 

Zero Waste Bhutan APP was officially launched on December 13, 2022 and will be effective from tomorrow (December 15, 2022) for nationwide implementation. ZW Bhutan APP is primarily for enforcement of waste-related offences. Every individual including general public can register and take up community policing role in addressing the ever-increasing waste problems and at the same time earn 30% of the penalty amount as incentive for authentic offence reporting. The app also has a platform to disseminate information, penalty payment interface and information on waste-related facilities & services.

Bhutan is lead country for BIMSTEC joint working group on environment and climate change. In this regard, the National Environment Commission Secretariat is hosting the first meeting of the joint working group (virtually) on 6th December 2022 9am onwards.

The revised Waste Offense & Fine Schedule including Incentives & Rewards for offense reporting will come into effect from 15 December 2022.

The National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS) is conducting the Local Government (LG) level consultation workshop on the “Guideline for formation and registration of Water User Association (WUA)” from November 25 until December 6, 2022. The guideline was developed to support implementation of the provisions under the Water Act of Bhutan, 2011 and the Water Regulation of Bhutan, 2014 and provides a detailed framework for formation and registration of WUA, including the roles and responsibilities of the Gewog Administration. WUA is an essential tool to institutionalize the Integrated Water Resources Management principles and promote community participation and ownership in protection and management of water resources within the community.

Should this notification necessitate further clarification, the Environment Assessment and Compliance Division of NECS can be contacted at 02-331160

The NECS is pleased to notify that the establishment and operation of meat processing plants involving cutting/sizing, drying, and packing is hereafter listed under green category projects and shall be exempted from requiring Environmental Clearance (EC). However, the proponent shall be required to ensure that any waste generated from the above-mentioned activity is managed in line with the Waste Management Act 2009 and its Regulation 2012 (Amendment 2016). In addition, the proponent(s) must fulfill and obtain approvals/clearances/development consent from concerned agencies as required under relevant existing legislations.

Bhutan has a vulnerable and fragile mountain ecosystem. It has made a conscious decision to maintain 60% of its territory covered by forests and enshrine this commitment in its constitution. Currently forests cover over 72% of its territory. 

Bhutan’s carbon sequestration is 9.47 million tons CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year and emissions stand at 3.8 million tons CO2e.  It has reaffirmed its commitment to remain carbon neutral for all times in its updated National Determined Contributions (NDC). Hydropower projects currently offsets around 11 million tons CO2e, with another 12 million tons CO2e of hydropower projects under construction.

With the completion of training on all the 9 units under the Environmental (E)-flow module, the Water Resources Coordination Division of the National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS) conducted the Final workshop for the project “Minimum E-flow for hydropower projects in Bhutan-Phase II” from November 16-19, 2022 in Punakha. The main objective was a) Finalization of the E-flow module, b) Finalization of supplemental document, c) Conduct fish ecology practical, d) Conduct case study as per the work packages, e) Meeting with the management of College of Natural Resources and College of Science and Technology on E-flow module and its incorporation plan, and f) Deliberate on the Memorandum of Understandings/Institutional linkages and partnership with project team for the external institutes.