Unlike in the past, only a handful of customers visit the Sunday Market in Pungtenchhu Gewog in Tsirang. The business owners say people now prefer to go to Damphu town for shopping after the gewog was connected with motor road. The Pungtenchhu Gewog was connected with the road in 2007 and since then the business was affected.
Mangla Bazaar, which in Lhotsham language means Tuesday Market, is located above the Pungtenchhu Primary School. However, the business owners now operate their businesses every Sunday with the hope of getting more customers.
Once a bustling town, now only a handful of customers visit the town to buy grocery and clothes. Moreover, some of the shopkeepers closed their shops.
“Earlier, the town used to be the centre for four gewogs- Sergithang, Semjong, Tsirang Toed and Pungtenchhu. They would come here for shopping. However, the business has been affected after the nearby villages were connected with the road to Damphu town,” said Bola Ram Adhikari, a shopkeeper.
“If more customers come here, we have plans to bring all variety of goods. And customers will also be benefited because they don’t have to go to Damphu paying huge transportation charges and can save time as well. We have plans to provide a credit facility in the future if more customers start shopping with us,” said another shopkeeper, Dhan Maya Bhandari.
Today, besides poor business, most structures in the town are damaged. The locals say the town was first established in the 1940s.
“The town requires developments such as levelling the town area, constructing new structures and basic amenities like drinking water and road improvement works. This might help to improve our business,” said Bola Ram Adhikari, a shopkeeper.
“I am from Wangphu under Tsirang Toed Gewog. I came here for some grocery shopping. But the business has gone down in the town. When I first visited the town in 2000, we used to get all kinds of grocery items. It will be of great benefit if the town could provide all necessities. Today, we have to go to Damphu for shopping paying huge taxi fares,” said Tshering, a customer.
The Pungtenchhu Gewog Administration says they have plans to develop the town including blacktopping of the access roads connecting the town.
“The town serves as the centre for five Gewogs. So, we will consult with experts and develop a town, which will benefit all five gewogs and a town that could attract tourists in the future,” said Shiva Lal Karaiya, the Pungtenchhu Gup.
His Majesty The King granted Land Ownership Certificates to 16 business owners operating in the town in 2017.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
