The entire issue turns on thromde representatives’ participation, and the Opposition says that without that, local governance as per the Constitution remains unachieved

By Kezand Dorji

“It is too early to discuss about the list of the thromdes (townships) when the Local Government Bill itself has not been given assent by His Majesty the King,” the Opposition Leader, Lyonpo Tshering Tobgay said yesterday, opposing to the motion moved by the Minister for Works and Human Settlement, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba.

The minister had placed the list of A and B class thromdes, as well as yenlag thromdes, or something like satellite townships, for the ap­proval by the National Assembly.

The National As­sembly member from Lhuentse, Karma Rangdol also supported the Opposition Leader by saying that it is bit too early to discuss the list of thromdes.

Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba had placed the list of three thromdes in category ‘A’, which are Thimphu, Gelephu and Phuentshol­ing.

Besides, he has pro­posed that every dzong­khag would have a B-class thromde and eight yenlag thromdes.

According to Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, all category ‘A’ thromdes will have in­dependent operations, but thromde ‘B’ will be under the dzongkhag administra­tion and yenlag thromde under their respective geog administrations.

The Opposition Leader said: “The main thing we want is thromde tshogde (the town office which will also have residents’ representatives) as per the Constitution, and not just the thromde. If that does not happen, there will be no local government as per the Constitution, and will thus be a violation of the Constitution.”

The Opposition Leader also stressed that none of the six eastern dzong­khags (districts) have a Class A thromde. Echoing him, the Gasa MP, Damchu Dorji asked why Samdrup Jongkhar is not in cat­egory ‘A’, despite being the main commercial town for the eastern dzongkhags. In fact, cutting across party lines, even the Home Minister, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji said that Samdrup Jongkhar should have thromde of category ‘A’.

The Opposition Leader also commented that he cannot see any substan­tial difference between thromde ‘B’ and yenlag thomde, as the first will be under dzongkhag and the second under geog administration, which means they would have no independence.

Ironically, places like Tingtingbi and Rangjung did not qualify even for yenlag thromde though it has been years that the government has spent money in town planning and infrastructure devel­opment.

Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba also informed the house of the list of places which could not be included in the thromde list. But he assured that the govern­ment will keep on support­ing these places for their improvement.

Despite the opposition to the approval by Lyonpo Tshering Tobgay, however, quite a number of MPs felt that it is better if the list is approved so that the moment the LG Bill receives Royal assent, the work on the thromde can be started.

However, the house will further deliberate on the list of thromdes before it is finalised and approved.