Norboogang Gewog under Nganglam in Pema Gatshel is seeking for proper demarcation of the Nganglam-Panbang boundary. According to locals, since there is no official demarcation as such they have been facing problems when collecting forestry produce from the disputed border.
Norboogang Gewog considers Chekardrang as the demarcation line with Pangbang Dungkhag. They said, now they are not able to do anything within it, as officials from Pangbang dungkhag monitor the area frequently. The residents are not happy with it.
“Being farmers, we have to saw timbers and collect firewood from the forest. For that, we get the permit and when we come here, the Panbang forest officials don’t allow us saying we have crossed the boundary,” said Dendup, from Norboogang Gewog in Pema Gatshel.
However, people in Norboogang were told not to trespass in Chekardrang as the border demarcation is claimed to be at Tokaphung which is 2 km away from Chekardrang towards Norboogang Gewog.
“The problem encounters while we collect forest products. We use to collect timbers and non-wood products like herbal Pipla, cane, fern, etc. Panbang range officers say we are crossing the boundary. They told us, we shouldn’t do anything. We consider the boundary as Chekardrang and they claim it is from Tokaphung. Around 2 km forest in between the disputed area is left like that,” said Khandu, the Norboogang-Rinchenzor Tshogpa.
“We have a group to collect non-wood forest products. But we are restricted to collect by forest officials from Panbang. We will be facing more problems hereafter,” added Lungpo, from Rinchenzor, in Pema Gatshel.
According to the people of Norboogang, if this issue is not solved at the earliest, it would grow into a much bigger issue in the future.
“We have lots of non-wood products in this forest. We collect it for our livelihood, but at the same time, people from Panbang also want to do the same. There is a risk of getting ugly when different groups from different places rush in the same place at the same time to collect the same products. We don’t want to risk our lives, we will abide by the decision the authorities make,” the Tshogpa added.
“Whether it is the National Assembly, Dzongkhag or Dungkhag, its high time they resolve this. As the problem grows bigger day by day, we want it to be resolved with a concrete decision. We depend on the forest, and we don’t want it to be wasted just like that,” added Dendup, from Norboogang Gewog.
According to the land record sector in Pema Gatshel, officials from the land commission and people met to resolve the issue a few months back but Ngangla Gewog administration in Panbang claimed their boundary should go with the constituency demarcation. The issue could not be resolved.
Meanwhile, people in Norboogang are hoping for the intervention of the government and other related agencies to make resolve the issue.
Thinley Dorji
