It looks like the plan to develop Taktse Village under Dragteng Gewog in Trongsa into a commercial space will remain on paper for some time. The district administration has deferred the implementation of the ‘action area plan’, which is like a guidebook for a town development to the next or the 13th Five-Year Plan.
The deferment was caused by some land owners in Taktse, who are reluctant to allow the government to use some portion of their land for land pooling. It is an approach through which the government uses the land for public infrastructure development such as roads.
According to the district municipal office, this stumbling block has delayed the construction of a three-kilometre-long ring road within the settlements. So far, only half a kilometre of road has been constructed and tarred.
The ring road is crucial to execute other urban facilities in the area including cycling paths, sewerage and drainage system, an ECCD and a waste disposal site.
The district administration prepared the action plan seven years ago and was approved by the central government in 2019. The budget of Nu 28 M was also allocated for the same that year.
“While the former Dzongda with the Gewog had a meeting with landowners, two of them were against the ring road. So, later the Dzongkhag issued a letter to resolve the issue at the earliest. But we are yet to know the update on this. Otherwise, we are ready to implement the plan any time,” said Sonam Dorji, the Development Regulatory Officer in Trongsa.
The issue dominated the discussion during the last Dzongkhag Tshogdu, held a month ago.
“The main reason was that landowners fear losing major portion of land inherited from their parents to road construction. If they agree to land pooling, then they will only have about three or four decimals of landholdings which will not be enough to build a house,” said Dragteng Gup Drubala.
However, the Gup assured the House that they will hold a consultative meeting with the land owners and other stakeholders to decide the fate of the Taktse Action Area Plan.
“The Gewog Administration will have a thorough meeting with the landowners. Once we get the clearance, we will submit it to the Dzongkhag. Then, the Dzongkhag and the Gewog will prioritise the activities in the 13th Five-Year-Plan.”
Local authorities and parliamentarians believe if the plan materialises, it will not only improve the economic conditions of about 4,000 residents but also benefit students of three educational institutes in Taktse.
“With the growing number of shops and other commercial activities in Taktse, the implementation of the plan is crucial. It will uplift the rural economy,” said MP Gyem Dorji of Dragteng_Langthil Constituency in Trongsa. He attended the Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
Some residents also tilted their opinions towards the positive impacts the plan will bring to the community at large.
“We heard there is a budget for the construction of a ring road. But the works has not yet begun. If the road is constructed, everyone will be immensely benefited,” said one of the residents in Taktse, Kinley.
Some shopkeepers there also have similar views.
“If such initiatives come through, I think there will be better opportunities and developments here at Taktse compared to the past years,” said Nidup Gyeltshen, a shopkeeper in Taktse.
Taktse action plan mandates the place to be developed within a framework of a traditional setting to blend tradition with modernity. As per the plan, residents are allowed to construct three-storied houses. But for those living near Taktse Lhakhang, they should stick to the two-storied houses.
This is to preserve the heritage site.
Passang, Trongsa
Edited by Pema Lhaden
