Businesses and permanent residents of Kamichhu in Wangdue Phodrang are calling for the place to be upgraded to a Yenlag Throm or satellite town. People say Kamichhu has huge economic prospects since it is located along the Wangdue-Tsirang national highway. The need for the upgradation was discussed, again, during the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
72-year-old Kinley, who has been running a shop at Kamichhu for about 25 years, has yet to achieve his dreams of expanding his business.
His shop is right above the national highway, but his customers are limited to his neighbours and the Punatsangchhu project workers.
“If we have a throm, since there are many travellers plying through here, shops and restaurants will benefit a lot. When it is a town, people will stop by, and it will improve our business. Right now, we have nothing. Since it is not a throm, people do not stop by,” said Kinley, a shopkeeper in Kamichhu.
People are also hopeful that with a town, they will have access to clean drinking water.
“We are fetching drinking water from the project site. We do not have a proper drinking water source and the one we have is not safe for consumption. So, if we have a Yenlag Throm, our sanitation will improve. Right now, sanitation is an issue as well,” said Namgay, another shopkeeper.
“With a Yenlag Throm, even banking facilities will start coming in. Having banks will make it convenient for both businesses and people. On the other hand, if we have an office nearby to pay electricity bills, it will be convenient,” said Phub Sithub, a shopkeeper.
The need for a satellite town in Kamichhu was tabled for discussion during the Dzongkhag Tshogdu earlier this month. The same issue was discussed in the House during the last DT session as well.
Daga Gup Kinga says a satellite town in Kamichhu will benefit the people of two gewogs.
“If we are to access facilities available in a town, we must travel over 35 kilometres to reach Bajo Town. If the government listens to the aspirations of the people, I think it will benefit about 50 per cent of the country’s population,” said Kinga, Daga Gup.
However, according to the Bajo Municipal officials, Kamichhu is not feasible for a Yenlag Throm.
The Municipal Office’s principal engineer says Kamichhu does not meet the requirements of having 1,500 permanent residents and 50 per cent business centres specifications to qualify as a Yenlag Throm.
According to a feasibility study carried out by the municipal office and relevant local leaders, there are only over 400 permanent residents, 160 businesses, and over 1,200 project workers in Kamichhu at present.
Not satisfied with the report, the DT decided to conduct the feasibility study again by a separate committee. The report of which will be discussed in the next DT session.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
