Thromde: Of the many recommendations submitted by the Thromde Thuemis of Samdrupjongkhar yesterday, one was of particular interest to travellers entering the dzongkhag.

The thuemis said that arrangements should be made that does not require passengers to go through the ordeal of having to walk through detector machine. The people are not in favour of the existing system.

Dewathang-Bangtsho Theumi said that the process is not only tiresome, but also causes unnecessary trouble to the passengers.

Theumi Norbooz said that the current system serves no purpose at all. “This only creates traffic jams as drivers have to wait for passengers to come from the pedestrian gate…A better option would be to build a strong border wall.”

Samdrupjongkhar OC Dorji said that the issue will be discussed with the dzongkhag and relevant authorities in the next thromde meeting. The current system, he said, was put in place during the 2003 campaign to flush out Indian militants from the south.

Thrompon Karma Sherab Thobgyal said that the issue will be submitted to home ministry and other stakeholders.

The tshogde members also discussed issues about the need for proper security fencing and outpost along the international boundary.

Dorji said that it is important to raise the issue because there is a need for border security and a permanent shed for police outpost near the NHDC colony.

The members said also pointed out that awarding contracts to the lowest bidder leads to poor work quality and further complicates the progress of work.

Norbooz said that most of the low-bidding contractors are inexperienced, illiterate and financially unstable.

Thuemis said that there is a need for the government to revisit the terms and conditions of awarding contract work to lowest bidders. They also recommended that the government allow non-Bhutanese labourers until Bhutanese labourers are available.

Yangchen C Rinzin, Samdrupjongkhar 

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