Although slow, the progress of the new town development in Gasa which started in late 2020 is steady. People of Gasa can finally expect a bigger and safer town possibly by the end of the year. The new town was initially targeted to be ready by the mid of last year.
From an array of developmental plans in Gasa Dzongkhag, one of it is the Gasa town relocation. The current Gasa town is located on state land, a few meters from the Dzong. However, the district found the current location unfavourable for expansion.
“The current town does not have any room for expansion so the planners have identified our new area at Kolikha because it has ample room for expansion, and furthermore, according to the hazard mapping, it is relatively safer,” said Jigme Choden, district engineer.
But Jigme says the Covid pandemic and the district’s extreme weather conditions delayed the works.
After a hazard mapping of the new location, roads and drainage network as well as plot allocation of five and a half decimals to each household has been completed. The residents have been given approval to start their house construction but the structures have to be traditional.
Many business owners and residents were looking forward to the new town but with the slow pace of its progress, some are feeling indifferent while some are worried about the uncertainty of their business.
“We have been here since 2012. We have been told the town will be shifted but it has been many years since the new town planning works started,” said Manita Rai, a shopkeeper.
“About three Dzongda’s have come and gone since we first talked about us shifting to a new town at Kolikha. We also held a meeting with the present Dzongda and have decided to shift soon,” said Kuenzang Dorji, another shopkeeper.
“Right now, there are a lot of land-cutting works in progress. For this, the Dzongkhag has offered their excavator and the 29 business owners have decided to pitch in for the fuel. After this is over, we can expect the construction of the houses to take shape,” said Chador, Thromde Ngotshab.
A total of 29 business owners will relocate to the new town once it is ready. A budget of Nu 23 M has been allocated for the project as of now. After the relocation, the old town area will be used for institutional purposes.
Kesang Wangmo
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
