It would be only a matter of time before the shopkeepers in Autsho in Lhuentse will have their own plots. They are currently operating their businesses on leased land in makeshift structures. They raised their concerns to the Prime Minister during his recent visit to Lhuentse.
The district administration allowed private landowners to construct buildings on their plots since 2020. This has left some 30 families who do not have a plot worried. They fear they might have to vacate the makeshift huts soon. While meeting with the Prime Minister recently, they requested to speed up the process to allot the plots.
“The dzongkhag has issued Lagthram and some landlords have even started constructing structures. And those people who do not own a plot and run shops are hoping to get a plot from the government. So it is really high time for the government and the dzongkhag to update us on when are they going to issue plots for us,” said Ugyen Penjor, in Autsho.
“Officials visiting Autsho tend to agree to issue a plot to the business entities in Autsho but they forget the issue as soon as they leave here. So we are requesting the government to issue the plot soon,” added Tshering Phuntsho, a hotelier in Autsho.
Acknowledging the concerns raised by the residents, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering agreed to look into it.
“Since there is only one secretariat who looks after land-related cases in the country, the plot allotment in Autsho might have been delayed due to that reason. So we will do the necessary follow-up soon. So there won’t be much problem since the land demarcation is already completed,” said Lyonchhen.
The Prime Minister also said there won’t be much issue in getting a plot if they are already entitled to one.
“The secretariat would be verifying it since the land-related case is challenging. However, I don’t see any issue in getting a plot. As your Member of Parliament said it is inconvenient to do business from a makeshift structure,” Lyonchhen added.
According to Lhuentse Dzongrab Wangchen Norbu, the town has 164 demarcated plots. Except for 40 state plots, the rest are under individual ownership.
The district administration started developmental activities for the Autsho town in 2018. However, the planning works got delayed by a few years as the administration had to get approvals from the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement and the National Land Commission Secretariat. The town will have different zones like an urban core precinct for commercial purposes, a residential precinct with residential structures an environmental conservation precinct and an open space precinct.
Until 2018, the shopkeepers were operating their shops on the state land on lease by paying a minimum rental fee. But after 2018, they were asked to vacate the plot to the present location since the developmental activities started.
Sonam Tshering, Lhuentse
Edited by Sonam
