In order to connect the country’s construction industries and engineering students, a two-day National Seminar began at the College of Science and Technology (CST) in Phuentsholing yesterday.

The objective of the seminar themed “Construction Industry- Inspiring through practise,” is to bring construction-related problems to the limelight and to prepare engineering students for  the job market.

Construction Development Corporation Limited (CDCL) and the CST jointly organised the seminar.

CDCL’s chief executive officer (CEO), Phuntsho Gyeltshen, said the seminar could lead to creating a centre of excellence.

“It will be in the context of Bhutanese construction scenario,” he said.

Phuntsho Gyeltshen said that the quality of construction is not up to mark today. This seminar, he added would prepare the future engineers.

Various issues of construction sector were tabled during the seminar.  Effects of pet bottle fibre in concrete, low-cost solution for urban wastewater treatment in Bhutan, seismic vulnerability of buildings in Phuentsholing, and paradigm and practise in construction of modern bridges in Bhutan were among the topics discussed.

Director of RIGSS, Chewang Rinzin, talked about excelling through professionalism at the seminar.

“Engineering is all about process and we need to follow that,” he said, adding not to forget the details.

DHI’s chairman, Dasho Sangay Khandu, also addressed the CST graduates.

“This seminar is relevant and timely when the country is moving towards vast economic development,” he said, adding that infrastructural development is at the centre of country’s development. “Construction sector is one of the priority sectors in the economy.”

He said that although the government has intervened and worked towards making the construction industry a better one, the growth of the sector was only in terms of increasing number of contractors.

“It is not in the competence and professionalism,” Dasho Sangay Khandu said. “Lack of experience, commitment to deliver, and poor work ethics have proved costly to the country.”

Dasho Sangay Khandu reminded the engineering students that the poor quality materials used by the Bhutanese contractors and lack of supervision had resulted in government redoing projects, exhausting capital investment and the scarce resources of the country.

“It is time for all of us to come together and change the scenario of the construction sector,” Dasho Sangay Khandu said.

Along with CDCL and CST, several resource persons from different organisations such as DGPC, JICA Bhutan, and DCCL will address the students in the two-day seminar.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing