Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

Wangdi Workshop in the heart of Phuentsholing town, which illegally occupied state land, was demolished yesterday.

A satellite clinic will be constructed in its place.

The workshop was built on 34.5 decimal state land and occupied illegally since 1970.

Two individuals, who jointly owned a plot near the workshop had encroached state land. They had not paid any taxes until date.

Thrompon Uttar Kumar Rai said that Asian Development Bank (ADB) was funding about Nu 14 million (M) for a satellite clinic, which is under the health ministry.

He said that considering the increase in the population in Phuentsholing, the clinic is important and would reduce the pressure on the Phuentsholing General Hospital (PGH).

“The satellite clinic would mean better quality of health care services,” Thrompon Uttar Kumar Rai said. “This is thromde’s primary objective to establish a satellite clinic.”

“The clinic can take care of the minor health complaints and the hospital can  treat major health-related issues.”

Health services accessibility will improve for all the residents in the crowded town, Uttar Kumar Rai  said.

The plan to build a satellite clinic was conceived a long ago but it couldn’t be implemented due to the land problem.

Phuentsholing Thromde sent a notification to Wangdi Workshop to vacate from the land on October 30, 2018. After that five more notices were sent, the last one on August 6.

“We were compelled to demolish the workshop. There was no other way,” the thrompon said.

“It was also demolished as per the urgency and the plan for the clinic, which has become ever more important.”

Meanwhile, this is the second demolition by thromde in less than a year. In December last year, thromde bulldozed eight houses in Pasakha that were constructed illegally encroaching the state land.

With this demolition, officials said the thromde has also sent a stern message to a few others who have illegally encroached and settled on government lands.

Uttar Kumar Rai said all such settlements built on encroached state land will be demolished eventually and development activities would begin as per the plan.