Unanswered questions 1 1 Bjemina quarry was allowed to operate under a department of forest lease, even though the quarry didn’t have a developmental plan according to the inter-ministerial report on Bjemina. 2 The forest and nature conservation rules 2006 requires developmental plans to be approved by MoA, without which no activity can begin. Under clause 14 of the lease agreement, MoA can terminate the lease if its terms are not complied with. The report says that Singye had not complied with the lease agreement. 3 Another clause in the forest lease is that the lesee (Singye) had to develop and protect forest areas, failing which license could be cancelled within 2 years. However, there was deforesta- tion due to quarrying, say forest department officials.

The competent author- ity to study the effect on crops, in such a case, is the ministry of agriculture; on health, the min- istry of health; and on environ- ment, the national environ- ment commission (NEC). This, according to observers, raised doubts on the government passing on its responsibilities to ACC, which they knew did not have the required capacity for such an investigation, as on mining dust.

The Bjmeina controversy started in June 2008, when Bjemina villagers complained to the Thimphu dzongkhag tshogdu, asking for an inter-ministerial investigation on the dust caused by the quarries. Villagers complained of respiratory problems, poor crops and dust from the quarries.

The inter-ministerial investigation found a high rate of 55 tuberculosis (TB) cases in a population of 952 residents and workers in the area between1998 to 2008. It said that the dust was settling on leaves and plants, which is known to affect ‘photosynthesis’ and affect the growth of crops and plants.

It also stated that blasting and crushing of granite dust from stone quarries emit silica dust, which can cause tuberculosis, chronic lung diseases and lung cancer.

NEC also noted high levels of dust and asked for measures to control environmental pollution. The department of geology and mines’ report also said that mining at Bjemina was being done in an ‘ad-hoc’ manner without a mine plan.

However, the health and agriculture teams reported that more in-depth research was needed to find direct proof of the ‘dust’ effect. No further in-depth research has been done yet. Though NEC noted the dust and DGM the ad hoc mining, no follow up was done, say officials.

ACC, in a letter, criticised the composition of the inter-ministerial team, saying that the respective ministries and departments in the committee were responsible themselves for the Bjemina mines situation. The letter said that, since the current situation had developed under the supervision of these ministries, it might affect the final report. However, despite ACC objections, the government did not change the investigation committee. It consisted of officials from the agriculture, economic affairs, health, and home ministries and NEC.

The main complaints were against Bjemina quarry dust, but they were also being generated from Bhutan Marbles, a smaller quarry in the same area. However in the end the issue of the mining dust has not been resolved.

“We’ll support farmers and Singye to address the problem of dust and collect some more data,” said agriculture minister Lyonpo Pema Gyamtso.

NEC deputy minister Dasho Nado Rinchhen said: “The case is with ACC currently and we’ll have to see what the court says but, if mining goes on, then we’ll follow up.”

Health secretary Dasho (Dr) Gado Tshering said: “We’re ready to do more studies in Bjemina if the government gives us instructions to do so.”