Over the past years, local brick manufacturing firms in the country have been in the limelight for not being able to sustain their businesses. However, a lone such brick business in Trongsa has set a different narrative.
Located in Langthil Gewog, the only producer of local bricks in the district said the demand has leapt since the first pandemic-induced lockdown in the country almost two years ago.
During a recent visit to the factory, BBS found that it makes a dozen of bricks in just a few minutes. In a month, it produces a minimum of 17 truckloads of bricks, which are often sold out in no time. One brick fetches Nu 14.
According to the manufacturer, apart from Trongsa, they receive orders from other central districts, mainly Bumthang and Zhemgang.
“So far, we haven’t received any complaints regarding the quality. Customers take the bricks before they are completely formed or dried and stockpiled. So, to meet the demand, we make sure the bricks are in stock,” said Thukten Drukpa, the proprietor of Y.T Bricks in Langthil.
Some of the customers like Dema from Dhangdung in Langthil have completed her four-storied house, using the local bricks.
She said the construction of her house began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in the high inflation of goods.
So, it was a wise decision to have procured bricks from the manufacturing unit in her locality.
“Otherwise, I would be spending a hefty amount for transportation charges,” she added. Dema is also not sceptical about the brick’s quality, which has been certified by the Bhutan Standards Bureau.
“Besides Trongsa, these local bricks are transported to many places within the country. I don’t doubt the quality of the bricks produced here.”
The factory has supplied bricks for some government projects in the districts such as four hostel constructions of the Taktse College, the 129-bedded hostel of Taktse Central School and a primary health centre, also at Taktse.
But the factory faces problems in transporting raw materials like sand and cement during the monsoon due to roadblocks.
This hampers production and supply.
Nevertheless, not taking advantage of the monopoly in the brick business in Trongsa, the local brick firm is turning every stone to maintain the quality of the bricks.
Passang, Trongsa
Edited by Pema Lhaden
