The residents of the Doksum town in Trashi Yangtse will have to shift to the new township by end of next year. The time extension has been given following a request from the residents.
They were supposed to shift to the new township by October this year.
This is the second time the dzongkhag administration approved a time extension. They have previously extended the deadline from 2016 to October this year.
“People have submitted an appeal letter to the dzongkhag saying that the construction works in the new township were delayed due to non-availability of timber and also they were also not able to get loans from the banks,” Rinchen Leyda, the Municipal Engineer of the Dzongkhag, said.
“They wanted a three-year extension. However, after discussing with the public and dzongkhag, we have decided to give them until 31st December 2019.”
At a public consultation meeting held recently, the Trashi Yangtse Dzongda urged the plot owners to speed up the construction works at the new site.
The town development works began in 2013 to relocate the existing Doksum town after it was found unsafe. The present town, which is just adjacent to Kholongchhu, is located below a huge cliff.
The constructions at the new township began two years ago. However, of the 40 plot owners, only about five of them have started construction works.
Plot owners say unavailability of raw materials has delayed the constructions.
“It is difficult to get timber for construction works. So far, only five of them have started construction works as they could afford without loans, but the rest of us are waiting to get loans.” Ugyen Dorji, one of the residents, said.
“Most of us do not have money to begin constructions and we are also faced with a labour shortage. But the main problem is the shortage of timber,” Chogyal, another resident, said.
“Although we are entitled to rural timber at subsidized rates, all the timber here is reserved for Thimphu. I have been to Bumthang to procure timber but there is a shortage there as well. It will be difficult to complete within 18 months time,” Chogyal said.
The forestry officials present at the meeting assured timber supply for the constructions.
The new town, with an area of 76 acres, will serve as a commercial centre for the people of six gewogs of lower Trashi Yangtse.
