Thromde Thuemis say Thromde do not confirm to Tshogdu resolutions

By Tashi Namgyal

PHUENTSHOLING

July 19, 2012: Thromde Thuemes of Phuentsholing are alleging that decisions and resolutions adopted at Thromde Tshogdus are taken “very lightly by higher authorities” of the Municipality.

A Thueme said meetings and resolutions are becoming useless and hollow as what is decided does not happen. “That way, we are made to look like jokers in the face of the general public.”

These comments come after the Thromde Tshogdu legalized construction of a fiber optic cable storage room at the Zangdopelri park premises in Phuentsholing, despite the Thromde deciding not to do so through a secret ballot. Even the Thrompon Tseten Dorji was against the construction.

“The proposal put forward by the Bhutan Telecom (BT) was unanimously rejected by the Tshogdu members through a ‘secret ballot’ during the Thromde’s third congregation in May this year,” a Thuemi said.

However, two months later, the structure stands completed, “creating an eyesore to visitors as well as residents.”

“The proposal was rejected citing aesthetic grounds with the park being the only visible Bhutanese architectural grandeur in the core city area,” another official from the Phuentsholing Municipal said.

However, the Thrompon responded saying that although the proposal was rejected during the third Tshogdu, it was approved in the next Tshogdu on “basis of a new and downsized drawing proposal put forward by BT.”

“I also reiterate that the decisions were never carried out without consulting the Thromde Tshogde members,” he said.

But a Thueme said the decision was not discussed.

Similarly, Thromde Thuemes also question the frequency of time frame to conduct Thromde Tshogdus which are being altered at the whims of the Phuentsholing Municipality without any consultations.

To this, the Thrompon responded that since the resolution made during a Tshogde Meeting that the Tshogdus will be held once every two months, it was felt that the adoptions could not be completed within two months.

“Because of this, we have extended the frequency of the meetings so that we could fulfill our resolutions,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pekarzhing Thuemi’s proposal to allow construction houses in Pekarzhing to curb the housing crunch in Phuentsholing was not taken into consideration, looking at the current state of affairs with Bhutanese people living across the border without affordable houses in Phuentsholing.

“Why not allow us to construct houses. It can atleast solve the housing crunch to some extent,” asked one Thueme.

Thrompon Tseten Dorji told Bhutan TODAY that the proposals were rejected by the Phuentsholing Municipality due to absence of Local Area Plans (LAPs). He however assured that constructions would be allowed once the LAPs are completed.

Courtesy: Bhutan Today