𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐮 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐨, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

…𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆, 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒔.

By Kinzang Lhamo

During the 11th Meet-the-Press session on December 27, 2024, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport announced plans to relocate the Thimphu cremation ground to a new site in Hongtsho, approximately ten kilometers towards Wangdue Phodrang. The existing cremation site at Hejo will be transformed into a green park as part of the Thimphu Structure Plan.

The new site in Hongtsho spans 46.45 acres, including 10.20 acres of private land owned by 14 plot holders. The remaining 36.25 acres are state-owned, including 2.09 acres from the current crematorium.
“The consultancy service for the design of the Hongtsho Crematorium was sourced through an open competition, and the work was awarded to Namas Design and Build for the preparation of a detailed estimate, drawings, and site development works,” said Lyonpo Chandra Bdr. Gurung, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, during the 15th Meet-the-Press.

The detailed drawings and designs are expected to be completed by August 2025, with construction scheduled to begin later in the year. The design process will involve close collaboration with the Zhung Dratshang to ensure that all spiritual and traditional elements are respected.

A key feature of the new facility will be a hybrid cremation system that uses a mechanism to ignite pyres with minimal firewood. This approach will reduce coal and ash residue while preserving the ritual sanctity. “The goal is to maintain cleanliness and improve the process of offering ashes to the river, while also reducing the use of firewood through a modern, efficient system,” Lyonpo added.

Hongtsho Tshogpa Mijur Wangmo expressed support for the project, noting, “It is good news to hear that the cremation ground is coming to Hongtsho. While it will occupy a few plots of private land, we are already working on providing land replacements to those affected. The administration is trying its best to ensure that no one is left behind or unfairly treated in the process.”

She also highlighted the potential economic benefits: “This will definitely benefit the community commercially. Until now, mostly restaurants have seen the profits, but with this change, grocery shops and other small businesses will also experience growth. It will increase foot traffic, and the demand for essential goods and services will grow.”
However, she acknowledged residents’ concerns, “Some people who own land close to the proposed cremation ground are worried. They have shared that the smell and crowd during ceremonies might be uncomfortable. Parents, in particular, have expressed concern about the potential impact on their children’s health due to the smoke and large gatherings.”

Wangchuk, a local resident, voiced strong support for the project. “The development is for sure, many people will come to Hongtsho, especially since the cremation ground will be established here. It’s not just one or two individuals, we are expecting a large number of visitors.”

He elaborated on the economic ripple effect. He said, “With the increased foot traffic, there will be a significant need for shops, services, and other businesses. Local entrepreneurs will have plenty of opportunities to meet the demands of these visitors, creating a more dynamic market environment.”

“The connectivity in this area will be much stronger. This will connect us to other parts of the region and bring more people into Hongtsho. The whole community will benefit from the increased business activities, and that will create jobs and improve livelihoods for everyone,” he added.

Another villager, Tshering, echoed similar optimism: “Hongtsho’s population is growing steadily, and while the arrival of the cremation ground will bring some challenges, it also promises many benefits. The area will see more visitors and people coming in, and that will boost the local economy.”

He also acknowledged current issues like housing shortages and water scarcity. “At the moment, the cremation ground is too small, and it’s causing difficulties. But once the new site is established and the infrastructure is upgraded, it will solve a lot of problems for us, especially in terms of housing and drinking water,” he added.

Still, some residents remain wary. Passang, a nearby homeowner, voiced deeper concern. Passang said, “There is no denying the development will bring benefits, but with it comes a set of challenges that we cannot ignore, especially for those of us living close to the proposed cremation ground.”

She expressed worries about emotional and spiritual impacts. She said, “The sight and smell during cremation ceremonies may be overwhelming, especially given the proximity to homes. Our village is protected by a local deity known as Aup Yatsho. If the smoke or crowd disturbs this sacred space, we fear there could be natural consequences, like sudden storms or ruined crops. These things have happened before, and we believe they are connected.”

A local shopkeeper in Hongtsho shared cautious optimism and said, “There is no doubt that the cremation ground will bring more people into our village, and that means more business opportunities for us shopkeepers. Right now, our market is small, but with more visitors, especially during ceremonies, we can expect better income and even think about expanding our business.”

However, she urged caution on environmental management. She said, “We have to be realistic, cremation means smoke, waste, and other things that could affect the air quality. If these things are not managed properly, it might lead to health problems or discomfort for the people living nearby.”

She called on the government to act responsibly: “We hope the government will not just focus on building the site but also think about how to maintain it. There should be a proper waste management system and something to control the smoke. If that is done well, the development can benefit everyone without causing unnecessary harm to the environment or public health.”