The dzongkhag’s tshogdu decided the location yesterday

Nobding: The small Nobding town between Pelela and Wangduephodrang will be the Yenlag throm for Wangduephodrang dzongkhag. The dzongkhag tshogdu approved it yesterday.

The proposal would be now submitted to the on-going Parliament session for endorsement.

Bajo’s municipal engineer Sangay Lhamo said initially two locations; Nobding and Kamechu, were identified. However, considering the feasibility and appropriateness of the location, Nobding was finalised.

During the 54th session of the Lhengay Zhungtshog, the ministry has proposed modalities criteria for dzongkhag and potential Yenlag thromdes, where they have used satellite images (google earth) to draw tentative boundary.

On January 15 this year, the municipal office held public consultation with Nobding residents and subsequently conducted six days of survey. There are 918 people including students, staff of various sectors, 16 shops and other residents in Nobding. There are 38 houses and 36 institutional buildings and seven illegal houses, as per the survey.

About 85.98 acres of land is demarcated for the thromde including schools and offices located there of which 44 acres of land belongs to the private.

Although all the local leaders including gups and mangmis of Wangdue dzongkhag’s 15 gewogs voted yes for the proposal, Dangchu gup under whose gewog the thromde is located voted no.

“I cannot support the proposal at this time,” said Dangchu gup.

He said the public was not consulted. He requested if the DT could extend the approval and consider gewog to conduct a meeting with public before sending for Parliament’s endorsement.

However, Dangchu gewog’s mangmi clarified that although initially some people were doubtful about the new development, after explaining the importance of a Yenlag thromde and its benefits, everyone agreed to the proposal.

The mangmi said that the gup was not present during the public consultation. “None of the public said no to the proposal during the consultation, which was held in January where almost every resident was present,” the mangmi said.

Municipal engineer said that the Dangchu gup neither came to attend the meeting nor showed during six days of the survey although they have informed both officially and personally.

Supporting the proposal, Nyisho gewog gup said although many gewogs wanted to have the Yenlag thromde in their gewog, priority was given to Nobding as the place falls on the lateral highway and is also the centre for four gewogs.

By Dawa Gyelmo,  Wangdue

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