When a land in Tungkutenpa, on the Panbang-Gongphu highway, was identified for the construction of a fuel depot back in 2015, Panbang residents thought they were only months away from having a petrol station.
But their dream, it turns out, were short lived. Today, almost three years later, Panbang is yet to have a fuel depot. As Rinchen, a Somathang resident, says, besides a fuel tank lying at the site, there are no other signs of activity. “We were told the depot is coming, but it’s been three years now and nothing has happened,” Rinchen said.
In the absence of a fuel depot, the people in Panbang still drive all the way to Nganglam or Zhemgang to fill up their vehicle tanks. Some buy from local suppliers who sell at higher prices. They pay Nu 100 for a litre of petrol sometimes.
Refilling LPG cylinders is equally troublesome. Residents say it’s about time something happens, but going by the recent developments, it’s likely the planned depot will take some time to come up.
An official from Damchen Petroluem says some changes have been made in the land identified for the depot during the recent town planning. The official said what they have now doesn’t meet some requirements. The dzongkhag has been informed about it.
