The Dzongkhag administration of Sarpang has agreed to compensate land to those affected landowners for the construction of domestic airport in Gelephu.
The domestic airport in Gelephu will be constructed on more than 500 acres of land in Bhur. Of that, more than 230 acres of land belongs to 141 people. On Friday, the government officials met with the affected landowners to discuss land compensation. Most of the affected landowners agreed to give their land for the development of the domestic airport at Bhur in Gelephu. However they asked for land in compensation for land and not money.
“Most of us are asking for land instead of money because if you buy land now you have to pay between Nu. 15,000 to Nu. 30,000 per decimal depending on the distance from the town. The government rate is a little more than Nu. 5000 only, “ Thukten Norbu, a landowner said.
The Sarpang Dzongda said most of the affected landowners agreed to give their land to the government as it is for the development of the domestic airport.
The Sarpang Dzongda said, since everybody wanted land and not monetary compensation it was decided that the landowners will be given land as per the Finance Ministry’s rule. Dzongda Kuenzang Wangdi added that when identifying the land they will take into account the location of the affected land from the border of the town.
However landowners with less than 10 decimal land and affected by the project are not happy. This is because they will not be given land in compensation for land. They will be given monetary compensation. The National Land Commission does not allow registering of land that is less than 10 decimal as per the Land Act.
Officials from the Department of Civil Aviation said they will now start developing their structural designs and road mapping for the airport and come up with site development activities.
