4th
July 2012: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Members of the National
Council presented the PAC report 2011 in line with Article 25.6 of the
Constitution of Bhutan. The report was prepared after thorough revision of the
Annual Audit Report 2011 by PAC.
The Members reported that Royal Audit Authority
(RAA) had audited 743 accounts and recovered Nu. 87.411 million, recovery
higher by 39.21% than that of 2010. The higher recovery was attributed to rigorous
follow up action by RAA and prompt actions taken by audited agencies in
resolving the pending audit issues. The report also has it that the shortfalls,
lapses and deficiencies was the highest unresolved irregularities with 46.51%
followed by mismanagement with 37.02%. Violation of law, Rules &
Regulations attributed to 14.73% and fraud, corruption and embezzlement at
1.74%.
According to the Annual Audit Report 2011, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs had the highest cases of unresolved irregularities
on Fraud, Corruption and Embezzlement amounting Nu. 5.565 millions. The same was
among the 39 cases unresolved in eighteen different agencies.
Subsequent to the presentation, the House
deliberated on the set of recommendations proposed by PAC and RAA. Among the
recommendations, the House debated in length, on the pending issue regarding
the lease of land where Trowa Theater is constructed. The Hon’ble Member from
Trashigang pointed out that the issue was a serious policy corruption which require
ACC to investigate and ensure government land is not sold to a private person.
He said such case definitely was against the laws. The House will continue to deliberate
on the recommendations tomorrow.
During the Question Time in the
afternoon, the Hon’ble Member from Trashigang said that while the Ministry of
Agriculture & Forests has come up with various pilot projects devised
towards combating human-wildlife conflict, people were of the opinion that the
problem of wildlife depredation of crops and animals has remained unchanged.
Despite numerous discussions in the Parliament and national forums, the problem
was yet to be mitigated. He asked the status of various pilot projects and
programs planned to resolve the old issue. He also asked what strategies the
Government has put in place to deal with human-wildlife conflict.
In response, the Hon’ble Minister for
Agriculture & Forests said that the pilot projects have proved successful
in many places. While the measures taken may not have kept wildlife completely
away from crops, the extent of crop depredation caused has reduced. Of the
mechanisms devised, he said that the solar fencing has been most successful.
While electric fencing could be used, Bhutan Electricity Act deemed illegal to
pursue using electric power owing to high risk on people.
Lyonpo also said that the Government installed
alarm device as one measure to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. While the
device was meant to alert people with the alarm, farmers misunderstood the
device to a machine that will drive away the wildlife by its reverberation.
That’s why; the alarm device has failed to gain trust and confidence of
farmers.
Speaking on the programs in line, Lyonpo said
that his ministry has planned of instituting a community-based insurance
program wherein initial financial support, for establishment of any initiatives
towards mitigating human-wildlife conflict, will be provided by the Government.
However, he said that the community has to sustain the program by financing the
recurrent part of the projects by themselves. He said that such projects have
emerged successful in some parts of the country.
Some of the programs
were coffee plantation in the south and hazelnut in the eastern Bhutan. He also
said that the Government has signed MoU with Nestle Company of India to assist
nestle plantation in Sarpang. He requested the Hon’ble members to contribute
and provide unwavering support to the Ministry at all times to enable realizing
self sufficiency through such projects.
Later,
the House also ratified the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and
the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to
the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Protocol was introduced by the
Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture & Forests instantly after the Question
Time.