Identified as a Yenlag Throm or satellite town in 2015, Mendrelgang town in Tsirang has yet to see any developmental activities. And the chances seem to be slim, at least for now, without any settlement or business in the town today.
Fourteen residents most of whom are operating businesses in the town had to dismantle their structures in September this year after their lease agreements expired. According to elderly people in the area, the town existed since the 1940s. But the National Cadastral Resurvey Programme in 2003 and 2004 found that their homes were constructed on state land. Therefore, the residents operated their businesses on leased land. Tsirang District Administration has given two months prior notification to respective occupants to dismantle their structures by September this year. But residents are still upset since they have been here for so long.
“Earlier, the government told us we would get to construct homes at the town since the area was identified as Yenlag Throm. We were elated with the news to settle here. But after vacating the town, the area has been left empty which is of no use,” said Dorji Lethro, a resident of Mendrelgang Gewog.
“Developing a town here would benefit us. I have a plot nearby and it is very near to Mendrelgang Central School and the Primary School. But without any developmental activities here, we are left in a state of helplessness,” said Dil Kumar Das, another resident of Mendrelgang Gewog.
Meanwhile, an official from the Tsirang District Administration said although it was identified as a Yenlag Throm by the district, the parliament has not endorsed the decision. The official said the development works in the town would commence following the official endorsement.
As such, it is likely that it would take some years until the people of Medrelgang have a well-developed Yenlag Throm.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Phub Gyem
