Housing shortage in Samdrup Jongkhar, for how long?

It is neither the summer heat nor the water problem that worries the civil servants transferred to Samdrup Jongkhar. It is finding an apartment.

Be it civil servants or any corporate or private employee transferred to Samdrup Jongkhar everyone has a common concern to share and that is finding a place to live. The town has been faced acute housing shortage for many years now. With the town upgraded to Class A Thromde, and its population growing, the problem is only getting worst by day. Civil servants are frustrated having to worry about shelter on one hand and on the other, to mind their job.

It is a common scene of a newly arrived family in Samdrup Jongkhar, their personal belongings lying around, under staircases or in the corner of some offices until a place to stay is found, which usually takes a long time. “It is often stressful” said Pema, a civil servant who arrived in Samdrup Jongkhar two months ago. He is still putting up with a friend.

“Knowing the shortage of apartments, when we go out looking for houses even owners take advantage of the situation and increase the rent exorbitantly”, Pema added. He said “a flat that cost about Nu.3500 in Gelephu, costs as high as Nu. 7000 to 8000 in Samdrup Jongkhar.

Pema Lhamo is another employee who was transferred to Samdrup Jongkhar two months ago. She is still sharing a flat at the National Housing Development Corporation colony. She is under pressure from the authorities to vacate since sharing is not allowed.

With private apartments for rent hard to come by, civil servants are applying for government quarters. Stacks of application are seen at the offices of National Pension and Provident Fund and National Housing Development Corporation.Whenever a flat is available, the NPPF office announces it and applicants turn up in droves to try their luck. The flat allotment is done on lucky draw system among the applicants.

There are 68 units occupied by civil servants of various grades. About hundred more applications are in waiting according to the Liaison Officer, Chencho. “First we receive the application form, we then check if the applicant is a member of the NPPF. We check for how long they have been our member, the minimum is two years. It is important to give preference to senior members” he added.

The story of civil servants wanting a unit at the National Housing Development Corporation is no different. Presently there are more than 60 applicants. The only difference is, flats are allotted on the first come first serve basis by the NHDC. The colony constructed in 2007 has 54 units. There are also 24 units in the old PWD colony now taken over by NHDCL. The buildings are quite old and will soon be dismantled after new ones are constructed nearby.

To ease the housing problem, house owners were allowed to furnish the attics. But this has not helped much. One practical solution would be to build houses but like in every urban place, getting approval is a problem.

One of the Thromde Thume said in the past many construction were delayed due to lengthy procedures such as approving drawings from Thimphu. The Thromde Thume of Samdrup Jongkhar Toe constituency, Ugyen Dorji said “The housing crunch is nothing new. It has been there for a long time. Getting approval, lengthy process in land ownership transfers are some of the issues I was told”.

But there is good news as the NPPF has already bought a land some three kilometres from the main town and will build another housing colony in the coming years. The Liaison Officer, Chencho said “we are under process and will start construction as soon as things like land registration and ownership are done.”