Residents of Dorokha Dungkhag in Samtse have been facing persistent fuel and LPG shortages, forcing many to travel over 30 kilometres to refuel vehicles or restock cooking gas. The lone fuel station in Basantey village is struggling to meet the demands of the Dungkhag’s growing population of over 11,000.
The residents of Dorokha, Denchukha, and Dumtoed are facing challenges due to the unreliable supply of fuel and LPG cylinders.
While the Dungkhag’s lone fuel station in Basantey or Chhuka is meant to serve the area, frequent shortages of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas have left many residents frustrated.
“Sometimes we receive LPG cylinders, but other times, we don’t. Without electricity or cooking gas, we are forced to go hungry on some days,” said Jai Narayan Acharja, a resident.
“Dorokha is growing, but the fuel station cannot keep up with our needs. We end up keeping empty LPG cylinders at home, hoping they will eventually be refilled,” said Som Nath Bastola, another resident.
“The fuel station in Basantey is often unreliable for us in Denchukha. Most of the time, it runs out of fuel or LPG cylinders, leaving us struggling to meet our needs,” said Geeta Raj Rai, also a resident.
According to the Druk Petroleum Corporation Limited fuel depot in Dorokha, delays in the RTGS payment system often hinder the timely delivery of LPG and fuel supplies.
Additionally, the recent festival season in India has further disrupted the supply chain. According to the depot, they have reported the issue to their head office and requested an increased supply quota to address the growing demands of the Dungkhag.
Dorokha Dungkhag currently gets 4,000 litres of petrol, 8,000 litres of diesel, and 270 LPG cylinders monthly. However, residents say this is not enough to meet the needs of the growing population in Dorokha.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sonam Pem
