Gomtu town in Samtse is believed to have evolved with the establishment of the Penden Cement Authority in 1982. Over the years, the small border town has come in handy to the residents of Gomtu town and Phuentshogpelri gewog. But the development in the town has been sluggish. The town is desperately calling out for major infrastructural development.
Gomtu town is one of the oldest towns in Samtse. The residents are not happy with the overall management of the town area. They said that the town today is in desperate need of major infrastructural development.
A quick walk through the town area and you will see buildings as old as the town, roads riddled with potholes, a poor drainage system, and stray cattle roaming freely in the middle of the roads.
While a garbage collecting vehicle can be seen making rounds, many say, a lot can be done when it comes to waste issues in the town.
Frustrated with the conditions of the town, a few residents claim that the town has been disregarded over the last few years.
“The town is as it is in the past. There is no development in the town. We don’t have proper town planning like others and it is an industrial town. As such we have to depend on the industry for any development,” said Ashish Gurung, a resident of Gomtu.
“I came back to Gomtu after one year and it is still the same with nothing much happening in the town area. The condition of the road is poor and we still face accessibility problems,” said Sangay Khandu, another resident.
“We are still facing problems related to dust as the town is located in the industrial area. And the road in the town area is filled with potholes and it is rough. It would be better if the industry or the Dzongkhag looks at the matter and finds a solution,” said Kelzang Dawa, a resident.
The majority of the town area falls on Penden Cement Authority’s Land. The Chief Executive Officer of Penden Cement Authority said that since Gomtu town was declared as a Yenlag throm in 2015, the office cannot do much to improve infrastructures and amenities in the town.
However, last year the office proposed to Dzongkhag municipality to convert Gomtu town into an industrial town. The CEO said they are yet to hear from the municipality office.
The Dzongkhag Municipality informed that the office also initiated Gomtu Area Action Plan before the Penden Cement Authority’s proposal. For now, the proposal has been forwarded to the works and human settlement ministry, economic affairs ministry, and the land commission.
They are waiting for a response.
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Passang Dorji, Samtse
