The Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) paid Nu.1.8 MN as compensation to the members of Janam Janam Community Forest in Samtse. The compensation is one of the highest to be recorded since the establishment of community forest in the country.
It took four years for the money to finally reach the members of the community forest. Janam Janam Community Forest in Saurini Village is about 10 kilometres away from Samtse town.
|
|
|---|
In 2010, Bhutan Power Corporation used 16 acres of community forest in Samtse for transmission lines and structures for Rural Electrification Project.
“The area, where the KV lines pass through, was one of the finest areas and we worked hard on it,” said the Chairperson of the Janam Janam Community Forest, Om Prasad Ghalley. He said the compensation from the BPC is the opportunity cost the community members had to forgo.
The Chairperson said the compensation money would be used to build a Community Forest Office. They are also thinking of building a nursery.
He said they will also purchase a vehicle for the school going children of the community. The students walk over 20 kilometres to school and back home.
Samtse Dzongkhag has 35 Community Forest and Janam Janam Community Forest is the smallest in terms of area. It spans only 280 acres.
