The Kholongchhu Hydropower Project might be a boon to the people of Trashi Yangtse Dzongkhag but it seems like a curse for the civil servants living there. Civil servants are already worried of skyrocketing house rents and housing crunch because of the project.
Many civil servants in Trashi Yangtse have already seen an increase in their house rents, following the salary revision starting last month. With the Kholongchhu Hydropower Project coming up, the civil servants said the house owners are again increasing the house rent for the second time.
Some of the civil servants said housing crunch has already began even before the hydropower project has come. And most house owners, according to the civil servants do not follow the Tenancy Act of Bhutan. With no other option, the civil servants requested the Dzongkhag Tshogdu to intervene to ease the problem.
Meanwhile, the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu decided to discuss the issue in the next Tshogdu. However, the Dzongkhag Tshogdu Chairman, Cheku says, the Tshodue can only discuss administrative issues and has no authority to take any legal actions over such issues.
Some civil servants, however, feel that by the time the next Dzongkhag Tshogdu discuss the issue, it would be too late to tackle the problem.
If followed, according to the Tenancy Act of Bhutan, a house owner can increase the house rent only after two years from the date of occupancy. The increase should not be more than 10 percent of the monthly rent according to the Act.