The Government of Japan, under its scheme of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Project, today decided to extend grant assistance to two projects in Bhutan (one is in Thimpu, the other is in Choekhor) which amount to US$ 180,804 (approximately equivalent to Nu.82 lacs) in total. The signing ceremony to formalize the arrangements was conducted on 3 November, Wednesday, between H.E. Mr. Hideaki DOMICHI, Ambassador of Japan to Bhutan and H. E. Mr. V. NAMGYEL, Ambassador of Bhutan to Japan.

The outline of the two projects is as follows:

(i) The Project for Improvement for Recycled Compactor Trucks in Thimpu City

Thimpu City Corporation is facing with the growing needs of waste management, due to the rapid increase of its population.

In order to help Thimpu City Corporation meet the demands for additional compactor trucks, the Government of Japan decided to provide four recycled compactor trucks through Yokohama, Kumagaya and Kawagoe cities with the support of Society for Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy, which will increase the compactor truck capacity of the Thimpu City Corporation by 50%. The sum of the grant amounts to US $83,101.

(ii) The Project for Construction of Reinforce Cement Concrete Bridge at Choekhor

Choekhor is located in a mountainous area, and at present the only means of travel from Durr Village and Lusbee Village（total population is approximately 800）to the center of Choekhor is to walk through a suspension bridge over the Menchugan River.

However, using suspension bridge is neither safe nor possible for heavy-loaded vehicles. In order to improve the situation, the Government of Japan decided to provide grant amounting to US$ 97,703 for the construction of a new reinforced cement bridge at Menchugan.