The Infrastructure and Transport Ministry will look into forming a high-level committee to properly identify Satellite towns or Yenlag Thromde in the districts. Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Chandra Bdr. Gurung said this during the question hour session at the National Assembly today. The Parliament passed a decision to establish Yenlag thromde in every district in 2015. However, the Supreme Court’s writ delayed the establishment.
In 2015, the Parliament decided to establish Yenlag Thromde along with the Dzongkhag Thromde. However, no Yenlag thromde has been established formally.
While questioning the Minister, Dramedtse Ngatshang’s Member of Parliament, Kinzang Wangchuk said the Yenlag thromde that were once approved are no longer recognized. Additionally, municipal amenities such as waste management, water supply, and lighting have all been discontinued.
“These towns are now merged with their respective gewogs and classified as Gewog Throm. But they are not getting proper support even from the gewogs. So, how is the Infrastructure and Transport Ministry planning to provide these towns with basic amenities and ensure the taxes are levied fairly? Some of these towns have to pay taxes like those in urban areas with standard amenities,” he added.
The Infrastructure and Transport Minister clarified that the taxes are not levied based on amenities.
The taxes for the identified Yenlag Thromdes are based on Property Assessment and Valuation Agency valuation and land uses such as residential or commercial, land value, economic activities and proximity from the highway.
As for the amenities, the minister said the planning and implementation are being carried out according to Local Government’s requirements.
“Local Government Act of Bhutan gives Local governments the authority to plan and implement activities. The Gewog Administration takes up the implementation since the Yenlag Thromdes are under the Gewog jurisdiction. Whenever local leaders have requested help to develop thromdes in their district, we assisted. So far, we have supported 11 such projects. We also assist LGs with spatial planning for both Dzongkhag and Yenlag Thromdes based on their requests.”
The minister added that basic amenities such as water supply, roads, power supply, sewerage, waste management and stormwater drains are being planned and implemented as part of the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Sangay Chezom
