The Bumthang municipal office will start charging a monthly rental fee of Nu 1000 a vendor at the Chamkhar vegetable market starting next month. This was decided at the Dzongkhag Tshogdu, which was held yesterday after the municipal office proposed for a need to collect rental fees from the vendors at the session.
However, the vendors are demanding for improved facilities before the Dzongkhag Tshogdu’s resolution come into force.
According to the municipal office, it is necessary to charge rental fees to the vendors for the vegetable shed at Chamkhar as practised in other districts. The municipal engineer said a caretaker would be employed at the vegetable market to take care of garbage and cleanliness in the area once the fee collection system begins. The amount covers electricity bill, garbage dump truck service, water facility, caretaker’s fee and vegetable shed’s rental. Other members of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu also supported the proposal.
However, though the vendors are willing to pay the fee, they call for a need to improve the condition of the vegetable sheds. There are sixteen of them who are regular vendors at the market. The fee would be only levied on the regular vegetable sellers.
“As the sheds are in the open air, it becomes too cold to sit here during winter and in summer, dust and rain affect us. Sometimes because of the rain, our vegetables get rotten. So it would be nice if the sheds are enclosed,” said Thuji Dema, a Vegetable Seller, at Chamkhar in Bumthang.
“We respect the Dzongkhag Tshogdu’s decision and are willing to pay the fees but it would be really helpful for us if an enclosure is built around the vegetable sheds so that cattle won’t damage our goods. The vegetable market at Monggar is a great example. Out there, as the day comes to an end, people just cover their vegetables with tarpaulin and go home feeling safe and relaxed,” said Kinzang Lhamo, also a Vegetable Seller.
“We want the sheds to be fenced like the vegetable stalls at Punakha which have keys attached to them handily. We don’t mind paying the fees if we are ensured such facilities but if there are no changes here, Nu 1000 fee won’t be justified,” added Sherab, also a vegetable vendor.
The fee, however, will be exempted for local farmers who come to sell vegetables at the weekend sale counter once or twice a week. Vendors at the livestock product sale counter won’t be charged the rental as well.
Kipchu
