Gelephu residents face housing crunch
If you are transferred to Gelephu, you will have to put up with relatives or a friend for at least a few months. This is because finding a house in Gelephu is difficult now. There was a time when house owners had to go looking for tenants.
The situation now is the opposite. Local residents say this is because of the increasing population. There has not been corresponding growth in housing constructions. Residents blame this on the municipal authority. Construction of houses in the municipal area has been stopped as there are plans to expand the existing town. Residents said it’s been over nine years since construction was stopped in the town.
However the Gelephu municipal in-charge Chophel Dorji said the structural plan for the Local Area has been completed and forwarded to the Land Commission. He said the office is still waiting for the orders from the Land Commission.
Tired of waiting, some of the residents have started constructions without proper authorization. However, the municipal office has stopped them.
Landowners said they are frustrated with the never coming town planning. People also say the housing shortage is due to the conversion of residents into offices. Other houses are converted into stores by shopkeepers.