Disallowing private construction works in identified Red-zone and Green-zone has left many people confused. The National Council member of Punakha raised this during the question hour session in the council today. Green or environmentally sensitive zones are designated areas in which there should not be any construction or excavation, whereas red zones are areas that have a higher risk of exposure to disasters.
MP Lhaki Dolma, the council member of Punakha says the works and human settlement ministry’s green zones and red zones policy is not applied uniformly. According to the MP, the government should not be doing any construction works in such zones if the same is disallowed for the public. Moreover, the MP says landowners who have land in such zones are not compensated.
“If the government could not provide incentives to the public who are disallowed to construct in Red-zone areas due to weak economic conditions, why can’t the government allow private individuals willing to take risks and use their land?” the MP asked.
However, works and human settlement minister Dorji Tshering says construction works done by the government in the red zone are approved only after risk assessment studies.
“Red zone is not declared through clairvoyant power but on the basis of data accumulated through research. Given the clearance to construct in red-zone areas, many would take up the risk and construct nowadays,” said Lyonpo.
The minister, however, acknowledged the complexity of the policy. Lyonpo says the ministry is reviewing it to make it better and expects to resolve this in a few years.
Ngawang Tenzin
Edited by Sonam
