Landowners in Dhosoom get one more year till December 2020 to finish building houses and shift to the new satellite town. The Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS) approved the extension after Dhosoom business community approached the ministry.
People have been building houses at the new satellite town since 2013. They were supposed to complete all 40 buildings by 2016. But today, only eight buildings are ready. This time, they should complete the construction by the end of this year.
“After discussing with Dhosoom business community, we have approached the MoWHS and they have provided extension till the end of December 2020. So now some peoples have started groundwork, those who are not able to construct at least they are preparing to build a small house,” said Sangay Dorji, the Dhosoom Business Tshogpa in Trashi Yangtse.
But some landowners are still not comfortable with the one year extension.
“It has been almost two years but still, the construction is not complete, sometimes the outer layer of the building gets completed but inside remains incomplete, soon we are going to start work but within one year, I think we will not able to complete our construction work but we are going to shift there only,” said Phuntsho, from Dhosoom in Trashi Yangtse.
“I will not be able to build a house in the new town. It cost me Nu 72,000 to prepare the land for building. And I might have to spend another one hundred thousand to complete it. I have no one to help me. I was planning to request the dzongkhag to give permission to build a hut, but I was told that it is not allowed,” shares Tshering Choden, also from Dhosoom.
Timber shortage and a slight change in design affected the progress in the new town.
“From our Dzongkhag side we have given third-time extension, again they are requesting but we could not provide, after that, they approach the Ministry, they got a one-year extension, which falls on 31st December 2020, The letter also clearly states no more extension thereafter where our Dzongkhag will also approve no further extensions,” said Lam Dorji, the Tashi Yangtse Dzongrab.
But listening to the people, the houses in the old town will continue to operate for a few more years. They will not be able to construct houses within this year.
Sonam Darjay
