Lhakpa Quendren

Gelephu—Twenty-six-year-old Prem Bahadur Rai plans to build a one-storey cottage in his new village of Dorjitse Singye Dara in Tareythang, Sarpang, after his family relocated from Dorjitse Chargari in 2019.

Prem Bahadur is one of seven households that relocated from their isolated village to settlements along the Gelephu-Tareythang highway, following the construction of the former Tareythang Gyalsung Food Security site, which has been repurposed for the Gelephu Mindfulness City project.

To construct a safe and stable house, Prem Bahadur sold 50 decimals of his land for Nu 3.5 million.

“I am waiting for construction approval. I am informed that the ongoing construction moratorium will be lifted in October,” he said.

Prem Bahadur owns three acres and 70 decimals of land, of which one acre and 50 decimals are cultivated with around 70 areca nut trees, 50 lemon trees, along with mangoes, avocados, and macadamia.

“I will be clearing the bushes with a JCB machine on the remaining land for plantation in the coming winter,” he said. He is also raising areca nut seedlings that are now three years old to plant on that land.

After years of living in remote, uninhabitable, and wildlife-conflict-prone areas, relocation became the most effective solution to provide relief. It wasn’t just about finding a place to live; it was about improving their quality of life with better infrastructure, easier transportation, and modern amenities.

In their previous village, residents lived without proper roads, a reliable mobile network, or electricity. They moved from the gentle slopes of the mountains, where houses were scattered among the forests, to a vast flat area where the community is now close-knit.

Villagers like Karka Bahadur Rai in Woongchilo now feel more secure and happier after their relocation. Life was very different four years ago when they still lived in the scattered settlement of Dorjitse Chargari.

Reflecting on their traditional way of living, Karka Bahadur Rai recalls, “We relied on solar power and had to walk about 40 minutes to make a phone call, as network coverage was limited in our community. We also had to cook over open fires, even in extreme heat.”

“We lived in constant fear, with poachers often firing shots along the border. Now, thanks to the Gyalsung project, we are happy and live peacefully under strict border surveillance,” he added.

The villagers once relied on mandarin oranges and livestock to sustain a meager living. “Now, we no longer need to guard our crops at night from wildlife, especially elephants,”says Karka Bahadur Rai.

The family inherited five acres and 44 decimals of land among 10 siblings, which they now cultivate with areca nuts, vegetables, cardamom, and fruits such as mango, banana, avocado, lemon, and cassava. They received Nu 1.2 million in compensation.

Hari Rai, Dorjitse Tshogpa, has built a permanent house in the new village and grows various vegetables in a large greenhouse. He also cultivates fruits and cardamom. Before the relocation, he lived in Norbugang, Serzhong.

“We used to grow only mandarin oranges, areca nuts, and paddy on limited terraces because of the elephants. Now, the wildlife conflict here is minimal,” he said.

Being closer to healthcare services has made it easier for residents to access medical care. With new homes near schools, children no longer have to endure long walks to attend classes.

“We now have access to the highway, healthcare centers, schools, and the gewog centre. In the past, we had to walk about an hour and a half to reach the gewog center, as vehicles couldn’t pass during the summer,” said 76-year-old Garjaman Rai from Woongchilo.

The initial seven households in Dorjitse Chargari have grown to 71 families in Dorjitse Singye Dara and Woongchilo, including 41 new households extended from the original families. The villagers were relocated to a more convenient area with land substitutes near the gewog office and received monetary compensation.

Restaurants and grocery shops have sprung up at the relocation sites along the highway, enabling residents to work right at their doorsteps.