Lhakpa Quendren

Samtse—Following the development of Local Area Plan (LAP) 1 for the core town, infrastructure development in the Gurung Basti section (LAP 2) has stalled due to budget constraints, despite the plan being approved in 2018.

Currently, most drainage systems and roads in LAP 1 are complete, with plans to develop trenches for water pipes and cable lines, as well as footpaths, additional drains, roads, and parking around buildings in the core town.

After residents raised concerns about the major infrastructure issues in town, Samtse municipal in-charge Tenzin Dakpa said that the designs and plans for infrastructure development were completed during the 12th Plan but could not be executed due to a lack of funds.

“We will prioritise infrastructure development in the core town during the first year of the current Plan,” he said. “We are working on it.”

However, the development of planned seating arrangements and parking lots will begin only after the completion of the ongoing Choeten construction in the town center, which residents say is progressing slowly.

“Until the Choeten construction is complete, we will maintain the road with granular sub-base or use JCB machines to level it,” he said, adding that the core town development is estimated to cost Nu 50 million.

With only Nu 160 million approved for the current financial year, the dzongkhag administration has proposed an additional Nu 100 million to the Ministry of Finance for the development of the core town and the vegetable market.

In the current financial year, Nu 100 million was allocated for the spillover activity of Tashichhoeling Hospital construction, Nu 14 million for water supply, and Nu 11 million for Small Development Projects (SDP). The remaining Nu 35 million was distributed across various sectors, with no funds left for town infrastructure development.

Regarding concerns about children’s safety with uncovered drains, he said parents should also take responsibility for advising and supervising their children. “While some drains are covered by footpaths, covering all drains would be costly and inconvenient for maintenance,” he added.

The dratshang’s construction material waste over the drains also caused blockages along the road towards the Hindu temple, leading to rainwater overflowing onto the roads.

The potholes will be repaired after the monsoon. The contractor has been notified, as the contract warranty lasts two years, according to the municipal in-charge. Hundreds of heavy vehicles transporting boulders also contribute to road deterioration near the border gate.

The Dzongkhag administration expects to address the drinking water shortage with the completion of the ongoing water supply construction and borewell system. The construction deadline has been extended to the end of this month after the contractor missed the initial deadline.

With a budget of Nu 12 million, a borewell system will be implemented to complement the existing water supply. A water table study will be conducted during the winter to obtain accurate readings, followed by the tendering of the contract.

The drinking water shortage began when the underground well pump in Dhamdum was washed away by a flash flood in September 2023. However, Tenzin Dakpa said that restoring the gallery is not feasible due to insufficient elevation for trapping water upstream.

Although this water source, which usually provides water during the winter, has been maintained to ensure a continued supply, challenges remain due to frequent damage to the eight-kilometer pipeline, which takes a few days to repair.

During the summer, residents rely on temporary water sources located about three kilometres from the treatment plant. “We have about four water sources, which dry up in the winter. Two of these sources have already dried up,” he added.

When asked about the neglected flower gardens in the town, Tenzin Dakpa said the areas were divided among the regional offices, including the dzongkhag administration, and are being monitored by the Dzongkhag environment and beautification team.

A shortage of human resources strains maintenance efforts, especially during summer, with only two grass cutters managing long footpaths and about 18 kilometres of road in the town.