Despite being provided repeated time extension to relocate the town to the new township, residents of Dhosoom town in Trashi Yangtse have still not been able to do so. However, holding a public consultation meeting recently, shop owners and the Dzongkhag Administration came to an agreement that residents will shift to the new town by the end of June this year.
Appealing to the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement last year, the business community in Dhosoom town got almost a year of time extension to relocate the town to the new township in Khetshang. This was the 4th time that the relocation deadline was changed including the three deadline extension provided by the Dzongkhag Administration since the development works for the new township began in 2013.
Despite the time extension, some of the residents still fear that they will not be able to shift by the mid of this year as they are not yet done with their constructions in the town area. According to the residents, the pandemic and the shortage of labour delayed their construction.
“We are trying to complete our constructions as soon as possible. Some of the residents have started the foundation works and wall construction with a limited number of labourers available here. But now with the improving situation of the pandemic and the arrival of vaccines, we are hopeful that there will be no shortage of labourers. I think, we will only be able to shift if they provide us with another one and a half year of time extension,” said Thinley, a resident of the town.
“Due to the pandemic, many of the workers have returned back to their places and this has caused a labour shortage here. This has badly affected the progress of our construction works here,” added another resident.
“The government and the Dzongkhag Administration also have to look at our problems. People like us, who depend on small businesses are the ones who are suffering from the decision. It does not mean that we don’t want to shift to the new area. Out here, paying rents, we have to stay in houses which has leakage problems. We are ready to shift if we are capable enough to do so,” added Tshering Choden, another resident.
However, despite the request, the Dzongkhag Administration, for now, does not have any plans to provide another time extension.
“The government has already compensated the amount for the old houses they own in the current town area. As per our plans, we are going to demolish the old structures by the end of June this year. Accordingly, we have asked them to move out within the given time. They have also signed an agreement and agreed to do so,” said the Trashi Yangtse Dzongda, Thuji Tshering.
Meanwhile, The business community of Dhosoom has also appealed and written to the Prime Minister with regard to the matter.
Today, the Dzongkhag Administration has only been able to shift the government and corporate branch offices to the new Dhosoom town. Likewise, works to blacktop the roads, installation of streetlight, proper drainage system, and water supply work in the town area have also been awarded to contractors.
So far, only ten buildings have been completed in the new township.
Sonam Darjay, Trashi Yangtse
