Even after eight years of waiting, there is no sign of any development in Lhuentse’s Autsho satellite town. More than 30 shopkeepers are waiting for the plot allotment to build houses in the proposed town area. Residents of the roadside settlement in Tsaenkhar Gewog say they do not see anything substantial happening in the near future.
While talking to all the shopkeepers in the area, BBS learnt that when the shopkeepers had to vacate the old area which is a state land in 2018, they were asked to wait for only about three years to start developmental works for the new town.
Now the shopkeepers run businesses on private land on rent just near the proposed town area. They are worried as their landlords want them to vacate the land immediately. They currently pay a rent of Nu 4,000 to 12,000 annually to their landlords.
“Some of us have collected timbers and stones to build our own houses around 20 years ago. Even today, the town planning is delayed and the residents are frustrated because the timbers are now getting decomposed,” said Cheki Dorji, a shopkeeper at Autsho.
“The shops and houses here are all built of pine trees and are all attached. If a disaster like a fire occurs, the whole place will be burnt down. We have been waiting for the town’s development for years now but the plan has remained only on papers and there is no progress in reality,” said Tsheten Wangdi, another shopkeeper.
“We are waiting for the government to start the town development works fast. Almost all of us residing here are ready to build our own houses for business,” said Yangzom, a shopkeeper.
“We the villagers do not have a proper place to sell our vegetables and local produce. If Autsho develops into a town, there will be a designated vegetable market which will benefit us,” said Chimi, a resident.
The government approved the Autsho satellite town development in 2015. Currently, Autsho town has more than 50 business owners. There are around 1,500 residents in the area.
Meanwhile, neither the district administration nor the National Land Commission was available for comment.
Namgay Dema
Edited by Kipchu
