Tshering Namgyal  | Mongar

The people of Gangzur gewog in Lhuentshe were left without a bridge at Lingabi for about two years since the RCC culvert over the small stream was washed away by the flash flood in 2019.

The tragic incident occurred on the night of July 25, 2019, claimed lives of a mother and a pregnant daughter residing beside the stream.

Local residents said the treacherous stream swells whenever it rains making it difficult for them to cross.

Gangzur gup, Kinzang Dorji, said the stream also pose risk to day scholar students from Lingabi and Rodpa studying in Thimyul Lower Secondary School. “The students often return home because of the swollen stream and miss classes.”

The issue was discussed in the 11th dzongkhag tshogdu (DT) held on August 16.

The DT decided to submit the proposal to the works and human settlement ministry.

In the day-long DT, members also discussed on approval of plots in Autsho town, where members said private plot owners, who rented their spaces to shopkeepers are increasing rent or asking them to vacate the plots after dismantling the temporary shops.

The business representative said that caused inconveniences and insecurity to shopowners. “In the pretext of local area plan development, the shopkeepers who were leasing the government land were asked to dismantle and move to private plots in 2018.”

The local area plan for the satellite town is ready. However, the dzongkhag is currently waiting for the National Land Commission to approve the allotment criteria.

DT decided to forward the resolution to concerned agencies like works and human settlement ministry and National Land Commission to look into the matter considering the grievances of the shopkeepers and approve the criteria at the earliest possible.

The DT also deliberated on the need of bus terminal in Thinleypang. While the plot has been registered in the name of Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA), DT members resolved to look into the drawing.

The last DT session for the second local government in the dzongkhag also finalised and endorsed the planned activities for financial year 2021-2022, where about 70 percent of the budget is allocated for farm road maintenance and to escalate agriculture and livestock production.

Edited by Tashi Dema