Landowners in Gelephu need to remove bushes and trees from their land to obtain annual land tax clearance. Failure to do so could result in the denial of tax clearance certificates. However, thanks to the ongoing topographical survey for the Gelephu International Airport expansion and other infrastructure for the Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Administrative Region, it is helping clear bushes, which would otherwise require people to hire workers.
Work is ongoing to clear bushes in fallow lands in Gelephu Thromde, as well as parts of Gelephu and Samtenling Gewogs, started in September of last year.
Some of this land belongs to the state, while others belong to private individuals. Thanks to the survey, landowners do not have to worry about clearing their lands themselves.
In the past, residents had to hire workers to clear their land of bushes in order to obtain land tax clearance.
“I do not need to clear my land because my dry lands are already being used. However, some landowners who live elsewhere let their properties sit unused, allowing thick growth to take over. Thankfully, they do not have to worry about clearing their land this time, which is really helpful,” said Dechen Lhaden, a resident of Samtenling Gewog.
“I do not have to clear the land for over six months now. It has become a clean space and has helped in clearing away the dense growth,” said Rub Naryan Gimray, also a resident of Samtenling Gewog.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City envisioned as a model city with global standard infrastructure is poised to become a hub for various economic activities.
People are looking forward to benefitting from the project.
“Our country will develop just like other countries. The Mega City will provide more job opportunities. With opportunities here at home, our educated people will no longer have to travel abroad for work anymore,” added Dechen Lhaden.
Meanwhile, the expansion works of the Gelephu International Airport are in the design phase.
Studies and detailed project reports carried out in the past to expand the Gelephu Airport, which was done before the Special Administrative Region, are being revalidated.
Currently, the airport can only handle small ATR aircraft. However, the plans include expanding it by over a kilometre. This expansion aims to allow larger planes such as Drukair’s A320 to land, which will greatly improve the region’s aviation capabilities.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Sonam Pem
