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Thimphu's
growth raises environmental concerns |
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Bhutan Development |
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Bhutan Information |
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The
pressure for expansion continues
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Thimphu |
The
Thimphu city corporation is in a dilemma as it faces an unplanned city
that is growing at the rate of seven to 10 percent a year, the fastest
growing city in South-East Asia. According to the thrompon, Phuntsho
Wangdi of the city corporation, the growth rate is "alarming". As the pressure
for expansion continues, traditional street patterns in the capital are
re-constructed to accommodate the demands of cars and the zoning of land
mostly for business. Meanwhile the National Environment Commission (NEC)
struggles with the environment concerns that increase with a growing city. |
One
of the major problems facing the NEC right now is the roads that are climbing
up the hill slopes of the Thimphu valley. "We cannot stop the construction
of private roads," says Karma L Rapten of the NEC adding that such activities
were a natural process in any developing city. Private land owners were
allowed to build roads as long as the construction had "minimal" damage
to the environment and the expense for the construction was borne by the
concerned private individuals. Apart from the permission of the city corporation,
if it was within the municipal area, dzongkhags, the forestry authorities,
department of roads, and concerned land owners the builder need clearance
from the NEC. For example, a new private road above the River View hotel
had fulfilled all their requirements and was approved after six months
of feasibility study. Meanwhile, a new feeder road going up the Lungtenphu
hill was stopped by the NEC for more than two weeks because it did not
have the clearance.
The owner was later told to plant tree seedlings and
grass, and to construct drains. The NEC anticipates many more private roads
in the future. "If the people are willing to pay for it and if there is
minimal damage to the environment, then on what grounds should we stop
them?" said Thinley Namgyel of the NEC.
The
city corporation also complains that private land and house owners above
the Yangchenphug High School were using the school road. "They are not
allowed to use that road," said the Thrompon who added that the city corporation
was building a separate road for about 30 plot owners in the area. The
road will start from behind the school and end below the Tandi-nye monastery.
The Thrompon said that a structural masterplan of the city will be ready
by February next year. It is being prepared by a firm based in Mumbai,
India, with the ministry of communications.
| This
article was contributed by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper, 2002 |
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