Shopkeepers in Damphu town are still waiting for the government’s response on whether they will be allotted plots or not. According to the shopkeepers, the delayed response from the government is affecting their business due to hike in rents and limited space to run business.
Our reporter, Pema Namgay, said that the shopkeepers have been waiting for more than a decade. Shopkeepers said they were promised plots after the town was connected to a reliable power and water supply. But even after many years since they received reliable water and power supply, they are not sure if government will issue the plots or not.
“Our request to the government to issue the plot was made before Khuruthang and Bajo towns’ plots were issued. Now plots have been issued both in Khuruthang and Bajo and houses have been constructed. But when it comes to Tsirang Dzongkhag, government has not made it clear whether the plots will be distributed or not,” said Nado Gyeltshen, Thormdey Thuemi of Tsirang.
The issue has been raised for many times during the Dzongkhag Tshogdue meetings in the past but so far shopkeepers said they did not receive any response from the government. The delay according to them is costing their business due to soaring house rents. They are also facing shortage of space to run business.
“In every meeting we have raised this issue. We were told that we will get the plots once the town has reliable electricity and water supply. We have now received power and water supply but not the plots. We are still expecting it,” said Muktinath Khatiwara, a Shopkeeper.
Another Shopkeeper, Narayan, said that if the government plans not to issue the government land, then they should have been told long time back. “We could have constructed private houses and would not have faced the problems we are facing today. Anyways, since Government promised us the plots, we are hopeful,” he added.
The Shopkeepers said it would not be fair, if government decided not to allot plots, since they have requested long before the Bajo and Kuruthang town plots allotment issues started. The Shopkeepers are, however, expecting a solution when the Works and Human Settlement Minster visits Damphu town in the coming week.
