THIMPHU, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bhutan's parliament took a historic step by conducting its first-ever Legislative Public Hearing on a mine-related bill here on Friday.
This is the first public hearing after the country's transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 2008.
It was conducted on Friday by 13 members from the National Assembly's Economic and Finance Committee to review the Mines and Minerals Bill 2020.
All stakeholders from relevant sectors in the mining industry and local and government representatives were quizzed. The hearing will be tabled for discussion at the upcoming parliament session.
Parliament member Dorji Wangdi said the mining only profits the promoters who are already rich, and is not contributing much to the country and its people.
The Department of Revenue and Custom's representative said there are around 38 mining companies in the country and only 18 companies pay taxes which constitutes three percent of the country's GDP, as others are running in loss.
The 18 companies have paid a tax amounting Nu 739 million (10.4 million U.S. dollars) in year 2016-2017 and Nu 1,500 million (21.1 million U.S. dollars) in year 2017-2018.
The members also mentioned the environmental damages and health hazards caused to local people due to dust and the mining work.
A representative from a mining site in Pagli in the southern district of Samtse Bhutan said the mining operations in their locality are causing more harm than benefit.
"Our village used to grow almost nine varieties of crops and varied fruits and vegetables. But since last few years the dust pollution has immensely affected the growth of agriculture produce," a local representative said.
The committee members questioned the role of the National Environment Commission (NEC), which faces manpower shortage according to NEC officials.
This legislative public hearing is conducted after various public consultations, and is aimed to get public inputs on the mines and mineral Bill 2020, which will be discussed soon. It is one of the most controversial and prolonged bills of Bhutan.
Former politicians and journalists pressed the parliament for conducting the hearing. Sangay Khandu, a two-term former National Council member congratulated the members of the National Assembly for successfully holding the hearing.
"It is an important progress in our culture of parliamentary democracy, attributable to the 3rd parliament and its leadership," said Sangay on social media.
"It is a major step toward democratizing public discourse on issues of national interest," said Kinley, a news editor, adding that such public hearings must be held on other issues as well.
