Of the seven workshops in Samdrupjongkhar, two are yet to relocate to the new area according to the thromde’s local area plan.

Thromde had identified the service centre area earlier called as the industrial area as the new location for the workshops, scrap dealers, car wash, construction material suppliers, fabrication units and furniture stores, among others.

The two workshops were notified to move in to the new location in 2015 and 2016. The workshop owners were provided two years to relocate at the new area.

Samdrupjongkhar Thrompon Karma Sherab Thobgyal said that the notification clearly stated that if the owners failed to move within two years, space allotment would be cancelled. “But the ground reality is different. Sometimes they have other issues and we have to reconsider it. Within next one year, they should be able to shift to the new structure.”

Thromde’s land registrar, Namgay Wangdi, said that two workshops had issues of excess land and dispute with the neighbouring workshop owner. “All these have been resolved today and they received a year extension from thromde to move to the new location.”

Thromde notified the two workshops again to complete shifting to the new location within the new timeline.

“They have to shift, otherwise they will be fined, and we might also take legal action. But they have given undertaking that they will shift. Some have already shifted and are operating,” Thrompon Karma Sherab Thobgyal said.

Thromde’s plan to relocate the workshops was to provide service from one area for the convenience of the residents at Samdrupjongkhar.

Thrompon Karma Sherab Thobgyal said that the relocation was important as most of the workshops were near residential areas and some were on private lands. “If the workshops shift those private areas could be free for development. And this may also help address our housing shortage.”

The thromde allotted a minimum of 10,000sqft land for workshop owners.

This was done to resolve the issue of congestion in the workshop areas.

A workshop owner, Langtuck, who relocated at the area near the end of 2016, said that his old workshop was on a private plot.

He added that the relocation had proven beneficial for him. “We only have to pay Nu 30,000 per year at this new relocated area. In the old location I had to pay about Nu16,000.”

Phurpa Lhamo