By Tshering Chuki Gyamtsho

August 27, 2008-Thimphu: The agriculture ministry is happily going HEHE as the officials, including the minister, have decided to walk to their office and return home on foot every Tuesday from this week.

The project, Helping our Environment, Health and Economy (HEHE), is the brainchild of the agriculture minister, Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho (PhD).

With the ministry staff at the headquarters in Thimphu observing Tuesdays as a ‘No Vehicle Day’, they aim to reduce air and noise pollution, reduce traffic and increase public space, improve physical health and reduce costs to the national exchequer.

Rising fuel costs and increasing carbon emission is taking the country’s economy and environment to risk, the minister said.

“We must take it on ourselves to do what we can to mitigate this risk,” he said.

About a hundred ministry officials walked to work yesterday, mostly starting at 8:30 in the morning, some even starting earlier.

Different groups were formed within the ministry based on the residential areas. The YHS school parking and Memorial Choeten group gathered at 8:15 in the morning.

Other groups included the staff living in the vicinity of the bridge near the Indigenous Hospital, Ministry of Information and Communication gate, Zilukha tri-junction and the minister’s residence at Langjopkaha. All these groups started at 8:30.

The minister’s team consisting of two women officials, his bodyguard and media representatives were among the first to reach the office. The team took about less than 15 minutes from the minister’s residence.

The agriculture secretary took about 45 minutes to reach the office from his residence at the pension colony area. Rest of the officials and staff took about 25 minutes to reach the ministry from the different parts of the city.

The director of livestock, Tenzin Dhendup, called this an unusual initiative as normally people prefer to drive to work. 

A woman official told BT she will be saving three liters of petrol every month since she will be walking to work every Tuesday. Normally, she takes about 1.5 liters of petrol in two days to drive from Taba to work.

The minister said the individual impact of this initiative might not be significant but the ministry as a whole, with over a hundred staff, will make a significant difference.

However, most ‘HEHE walkers’ said the roads are not pedestrian friendly.

The ministry has 30 pool vehicles at the head office with 30 drivers.  Fifteen drivers own taxis and drive them to work before taking over the pool vehicles for the day’s duty.

Some of the drivers said they did not bring their taxis to the ministry yesterday. 

Since every Tuesday is going to be a ‘no driving day,’ the drivers told BT they will hang around in the office and help at work wherever they can.

According to the Human Resource Division of the ministry, each pool vehicle uses about 10 liters of fuel a day if they are on local duty.

This initiative will save 300 liters of fuel every Tuesday.

The minister said the officials will have to take the effort forward without affecting the normal work. 

He said apart from health benefits, the walk-day was a good time to smile, talk, and greet people. 

The minister said Tuesday was chosen as the ‘HEHE Day’ because Monday was the first day of the week and people are normally not ready to work after the weekend.