For decades, Jigme Chhoeling town in Gelegphu has looked the same; a few scattered shops and shacks. Even the Sarpang- Zhemgang National Highway, that runs through the town hasn’t helped bring in development.
Jigme Chhoeling is the largest yet least developed gewog under Sarpang Dzongkhag.
Even the people living in town have given up on seeing development activities any time soon. The gewog has 31 villages and many from these villages depend on Jigme Chhoeling town to buy basic necessities.
“Because the rule states there should be 50 feet distance from the highway we cannot build a proper shelter also,” said one of the shopkeepers, Tashi Wangmo.
Some shopkeepers say town planning of Jigme Chhoeling is necessary if they are to bring about changes. “Customers hesitate to come in because our shops look so unattractive,” said another shopkeeper, Sangay Dorji.
Attempts have been made earlier to develop the town. But the plan had to be dropped as the landowners did not have proper thram, according to Jigme Chhoeling Mangmi, Kumar Gurung. He also said the landowners were found to have flouted the rule of constructing houses 50 feet away from the highway. There are about 50 plots in the town area.
“Developing town would not be possible as the area is small and many plots are wetlands. We all know the government rule doesn’t allow constructions on wetlands.”
The lack of proper town development has also contributed to housing shortage for the civil servants posted in Jigme Chhoeling.
