Following numerous landslides and technical issues at the Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project I, a three-day rimdro was conducted at the dam site beginning February 28.

An official said that although there were technical, scientific and engineering solutions, the problems continued. “So we thought we should seek divine intervention.”

On January 22, PHPA I suffered another landslide.

Following approval from the minister, the officials of the project met with His Holiness the Je Khenpo in December last year. An astrologer was consulted on the recommendation of His Holiness.

The astrologer visited all the places we had issues with including the dam pit,” the official said.

Numerous rituals were performed to please the deities of nearby places, including the installation of sachu bumter, which  is believed to stabilise the geography.

“We were told that the deity of the old monastery in Gaselo was also disturbed because of the blasts at the site,” the official said.

Presided over by Yoenten Lopon Truelku Thinley Lhuendup, over 30 monks from Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue performed the rimdro.

Yoenten Lopon Truelku Thinley Lhuendup also contributed a personal sachu bumter at the site.

The official said that the project would continue conducting similar rimdros in the future for the benefit of the project. “With technical interventions we do, we will plan to continue interventions from the religious side.”

Phurpa Lhamo | Wangdue

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