Samdrup Jongkhar town will soon have a better vegetable shed. Once complete, the three-storey facility will have cold storage, parking space and a toilet. Today, both customers and vendors face a lot of inconveniences in the existing vegetable market.
Tarpaulin sheets are put in place to protect the vegetables from the rain and the sun.
The shed was constructed about 15 years ago. Some of the residents say, except for some maintenance in 2016, there have been no major works to improve the market’s condition.
“The present vegetable market needs major maintenance. Every time it rains, the water seeps in and damages our goods. I would be grateful if a new vegetable market is constructed,” said Dorji, a vegetable vendor.
“It would be convenient if a new shed is constructed. At the moment, the rainwater damages our vegetables, which leaves us struggling to pay even the monthly rent,” said Dema, another vendor.
The vegetable market also lacks basic amenities such as toilets.
Meanwhile, according to the Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde officials, a newly integrated vegetable shed worth more than Nu 63 M will be constructed.
The Thromde awarded the work to a contractor in April this year. However, works could not begin due to lockdowns and restrictions on the import of foreign workers.
“Samdrup Jongkhar is considered a COVID-19 high-risk area and we don’t get workers from other districts so, the contractor could not start the work. However, we are in touch with the contractor and he will soon start the work,” said Karma Sherab Thobgyal, Thrompon.
According to the contractor, the works will begin once the restrictions on importing labour are eased.
The contract period is till June next year.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Tshering Zam
