Phurpa Lhamo | Wangdue

Residents and shop owners in Nobding, Wangdue are often visited by commuters running short of fuel in their cars.

With desperate need of a fuel depot, Dangchu gewog administration also raised the concern in a dzongkhag tshogdu in the past.

Further, a written letter has also been submitted to the Bhutan Oil Distributer (BOD) branch in Wangdue.

According to Dangchu gewog mangmi, Sonam Dorji, the proposal was submitted through the municipal office about year ago.

He added that about six months ago, BOD officials from the Wangdue branch also visited Nobding to monitor the place.

“We are yet to receive a response,” Sonam Dorji said.

According to Wangdue branch BOD manager, Suman Thapa, the proposal has been forwarded to the main branch in Thimphu.

Nobding with around 2,000 residents was also identified as a yenlag throm and development work would continue until 2037.

Nobding is located about 41km from Wangdue and 88km from Trongsa.

A fuel depot would not only benefit the residents of Nobding but also people of six other gewogs.

Sonam Dorji said that Nobding is close to Sephu, Phobji, Gangtey, Bjena, Dangchu and Nyisho gewogs.

He added that today, the residents have to travel to Wangdue just to get fuel, although Nobding has other services available such as banking.

“Nobding is between the east-west highway and so there are many vehicle,” Sonam Dorji said.

Today, for residents of Nobding, Dangchu gewog administration has made liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) available through an agent.

The agent makes at least three trips in a month.

However, Sonam Dorji said that the agent’s quota isn’t enough to supply LPG for the people in the whole gewog.

Edited by Jigme Wangchuk