Residents in Bumthang town mostly welcomed the Movement Pass strategy, which began in the town yesterday. However, people say it would be beneficial for them if more shops could be opened in scattered places especially in Jalikhar_Gongkhar zone.
More than 220 movement passes were issued yesterday for Jalikhar_Gongkhar zone. Today, permits were issued for people in Kurjey and Jambay Lhakhang area. Two shops are opened in each zone. People say it is convenient when they have shops opened nearby.
“We are glad we got the movement pass today because it takes a lot of time when we order goods from Chamkhar. For instance, it takes about three days for gas cylinder delivery. But with the shops opened nearby, we can get most of the essential items,” said Sonam, a resident of Jambay Lhakhang area in Bumthang Town.
However, people in Gangrithang and Gongkhar who are located about a kilometre away from the two shops in Jalikhar are not so happy with the arrangement.
“The shops are located very far from here. It is difficult for us to carry heavy groceries here all the way from the shop. It would be good for the people if another shop is opened nearby,” said Dorji Zam, who lives in Gangrithang under Bumthang Town.
“As the shop is at Jalikhar, it takes about an hour for the round trip. It takes a lot of time when we have to carry all the goods on our back,” added Sonam Tshering, from Gongkhar.
“As all the people have to go to Jalikhar for shopping, maintaining social distancing would become an issue. I think it would be beneficial if there are shops opened in scattered places,” shared Sangay Dorji, from Gangrithang.
Bumthang Dzongda Pasang Dorji said the shops were chosen as they are centrally located and there are no immediate plans to open shops elsewhere.
“We issued the passes to benefit the entire population. People who find the arrangement inconvenient can opt to make their orders with the retailers in Chamkhar. We even issued vehicle movement authorisation for five shopkeepers. Otherwise, we are making sure all the essentials are available in the zones.”
Meanwhile, the LPG cylinder distribution in Chamkhar, which began today, was quite chaotic with around one hundred people going home empty-handed. A distribution schedule was issued yesterday, however, cylinders were enough only for people in few pockets of Bumthang town. People in Chamkhar town waited for more than three hours only to return home unsatisfied.
“I think the schedule was made without checking the number of gas available at the depot. The distribution was a little disorganised. I informed the people to get their cylinders as per the schedule received from the task force,” said Ugen Sangay, the Thromde Ngotsab for Bumthang Town.
Dzongda Pasang Dorji said they have ordered another truckload of gas cylinders from Bhutan Oil Corporation office in Gelegphu which will arrive in a few days time:
“We didn’t expect this many people to come to get their cylinders refilled. However, we will take this as a lesson and make a list of households in need of cylinders and will issue them as per the list. However, in the next two to three days, another truckload of cylinders will arrive.”
He also said the next trip of cylinders will be distributed to the ones who didn’t get today. The cylinders distributed today have been sanitised a week ago and kept in BOC’s warehouse before distribution.
Kipchu
