Nearly two years after the planned relocation of the Hejo crematorium to Hongtsho in Thimphu, residents affected by the project are still waiting for clarity on whether the relocation will go ahead. The project was announced in 2024, with the government allocating Nu 600 M for the project.
A new crematorium is planned at the existing Hongtsho crematorium site. About 47.56 acres of land, equivalent to roughly 25 football fields, have been acquired for the project.
Of the total area, more than 10 acres are privately owned by ten landowners, while more than an acre belongs to the police. The remaining land is state-owned.
Land compensation agreements with ten affected landowners have been finalised, and substitute land has been identified. However, the landowners are yet to receive their land ownership certificates.
With no clear information on whether the crematorium will be relocated, affected residents say they are unable to make decisions about their properties.
“We don’t really know whether the crematorium will be relocated or not. Even if we want to renovate our homes and approach the gewog administration for permission, the Tshogpa and Gewog representatives tell us that they are also not informed. This is confusing,” said Kinley Wangmo, Landowner, Hongtsho, Thimphu.
“About 86 decimals of my land is covered by the planned crematorium. If the plan is confirmed, I don’t need to fence my fields. But if it is not, I need to fence them again, as all the poles are now decayed and falling apart,” said Pema Lhaden, Landowner, Hongtsho, Thimphu.
Local government leaders also say they have not been informed about the latest status of the relocation.
“The gewog is not aware whether the crematorium will be relocated or not, as the administration was not involved in any discussions relating to the matter. The details can be obtained from the Infrastructure Ministry (MoIT). We heard that the crematorium is in the design stage. While there are some talks that the crematorium might not be relocated or that it has been postponed, we have not received any official letter,” said Sonam Zangmo, Chang Gup, Thimphu.
Meanwhile, here at Hejo, some construction work is in full swing.
A single-storey structure with five guest rooms and storerooms has been built. Additionally, five body storage rooms are being constructed.
“It has been around four months since we started working here. We are a team of nine or ten workers. Only the finishing works are left, including plastering the walls. It will take about one to two weeks to complete the work,” said Sahidul Miya, Supervisor, Hejo Crematorium, U.L.T. Construction.
A temple at the site is also being renovated.
Earlier reports said the final design and drawings for the Hongtsho Crematorium, which were initially targeted for completion by August this year, had been delayed.
BBS contacted the infrastructure and transport ministry more than a month ago, but the ministry has yet to respond.
Kelzang Chhophyel
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
