Almost a decade the shopkeepers of Lhuentse town were allotted plots in the new town in Phaling, only 11 of them have moved there so far. Two more have begun constructing buildings on their plots but some 15 of them still live in the old town.
They have been given until August next year to move to the new town, but these shopkeepers are still reluctant to leave the old town where they have lived for more than 20 years now, running their businesses from makeshift houses.
The new town is located on a hilly terrain and lacks basic infrastructure. There are also several concerns.
Rinchen Pelden is one of the shopkeepers who are yet to move to the new town. She is worried over loan repayment.
“I just have a year to dismantle my shop and move to Phaling and I am worried,” Rinchen Pelden, a shopkeeper said.
“I don’t blame the dzongkhag administration because they have given me enough time. My husband died a long time ago and my children live in different parts of the country. Life’s a bit difficult for me.”
Karma Choki, another shopkeeper, shares the same concern.
“Most of the plot owners who have built houses in the new town are those whose plots are situated in the best locations,” she said. “Even if I construct a building there, I doubt if anyone would be willing to rent it and I might end up not being able to clear the loan.”
Kinzang, another plot owner, said some of the shopkeepers have been allotted plots near the road. “But some of us were not that lucky and because of the location of our plots, I don’t know if our shops would run well.”
The 11 plot owners who have already built buildings in the new town say the ground floors, designed as shop spaces, are vacant. They say no one wants to run shops in the new town due to lack of customers.
Lhuentse Dzongdag Jambay Wangchuk said the dzongkhag is closely working together with the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement to put in place basic infrastructure and amenities in the new town to attract the plot owners.
”We are so eager to execute this project,” the Dzongda said. “I feel bad for the plot owners and it is our responsibility to ensure the new town has all the basic facilities in place for them to be able to move in.”
The shopkeepers have refused to budge despite repeated notifications from the dzongkhag asking them to move to the new town. But if they do not do so by August next year, they risk being stripped of their right to the ownership of the plots.
Their plots will be allotted to new applicants if the old ones refuse to move.
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