𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐡𝐚’𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞

…𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

By Leki Chungdon

Residents of Dorokha Dungkhag in Samtse Dzongkhag continue to grapple with a chronic fuel shortage that has persisted for years, disrupting lives and livelihoods despite repeated appeals for intervention. The only petroleum outlet in Basantay, which caters not only to Dorokha but also to Dumtoe, Denchukha, and parts of Haa, has been unable to meet the growing demand.

The shortage has become so entrenched that households and businesses have learned to adjust their routines around the uncertainty of supply. With better road connectivity, increasing population, and expanding developmental activities, demand for fuel and cooking gas has risen, but supply has not kept pace.

For many, accessing fuel has turned into a costly and time-consuming ordeal. Those who can afford it travel nearly 80 kilometers to Samtse or Phuentsholing, while others depend on relatives and friends to carry fuel in jerry cans from distant towns.

Chungku Drukpa, a resident of Dorokha, said the problem has long troubled the community. “The shortage of fuel and cooking gas remains one of the most pressing challenges for our community. Despite several verbal complaints submitted to the Gewog, no improvements have been observed. This problem continues to disrupt our daily lives and urgently demands attention.”

He added that at times, people manage to fetch fuel and gas from Phuentsholing, but supplies often run out for weeks. “Such matters deserve timely coverage so that the concerns of the public are not overlooked,” he said.
The shortage affects not only transportation but also emergency services, farming, construction, and businesses. Tshering Dorji, a Dorokha resident currently living in Australia, recalled the problem clearly. “The shortage of liquefied petroleum gas and fuel in Dorokha has persisted for a long time. This situation poses serious safety risks. As gas cylinders deteriorate, the likelihood of accidents increases, even though no major incidents have occurred so far.”

Basu Dev Acharya, who has been stationed in Dorokha for two months, said the problem is recurring. “In reality, fuel is available for barely a week each month, after which supplies run dry. People are then forced to carry jerry cans all the way to Samtse town. Teachers and civil servants who travel long distances often run out of fuel midway, only to find the station empty. Despite repeated complaints, inspections and accountability remain weak.”

Tika Acharya also spoke of the difficulties. “When fuel is unavailable, I try to cope by keeping a small reserve in a jerry can for emergencies. At times, I request friends or relatives traveling to Samtse or Phuentsholing to bring fuel for me. Occasionally, I borrow from friends who have managed to stock some, and I return it once the supply is restored. This is how I adjust and manage my travel and work during periods of shortage.”

He recalled an incident when his child needed urgent medical treatment. “At that critical moment, the fuel shortage made the situation extremely stressful. We struggled to arrange fuel urgently, which added to the anxiety of the medical emergency. The problem has existed for a long time, and though authorities are aware of it, the response has not been strong enough to bring real change.”

He added that stricter monitoring and better coordination with suppliers could solve the issue. “Even when the government invests in such services, poor management and lack of accountability worsen the problem. My appeal to the government and relevant agencies is to treat this matter with urgency, as it affects people’s daily lives and safety.”

According to Bika Raj Rai, the Mangmi of Dorokha, the pressure on the Basantay outlet is overwhelming. “The single station serves not only Dorokha’s 7,052 residents but also around 4,000 people each in Dumtoe and Denchukha. On top of that, travelers from Haa and Gakiling who pass through rely on the same outlet. These factors combined are the main reasons for the frequent fuel shortages. We have already raised the matter in the Dzongkhag Tshogdu and proposed establishing separate fuel stations in other gewogs. However, the proposal remains pending.”

Community representatives share similar concerns. Somdhan Rai, Maneygang Thingaysa Tshokpa, said that limited budget allocation may have contributed to the prolonged problem. “I would like to request the government to allocate funds for establishing another distributor station in the region, which would greatly ease the situation. When I asked the BOD manager, he explained that the shortage was caused by a limited supply.”

Meanwhile, officials at the Basantay station presented a different picture. Bindiya Biswa, the manager, denied the existence of a persistent shortage. She said, “There is no persistent shortage of fuel, and I am not sure where the public gets such information. Only during the summer monsoon season, when heavy rainfall causes road blockages, does the supply get disrupted, and even then, it lasts for just a day or two.” She added that Dorokha consumes about 200 to 300 liters of petrol per day and 400 to 500 liters of diesel. “For construction purposes, diesel consumption can go up to 5,000 to 6,000 liters a day,” she remarked.

Some residents also agreed with this view. Namgay Dorji, a taxi driver, said, “So far, I have not faced any fuel shortages here. The station has been providing supplies consistently. Only during the summer, when heavy rainfall causes roadblocks, does the supply get interrupted but even then, it lasts for just a day or two.”

But shopkeepers and business operators remain unconvinced. Prakash Rai, who runs an egg transport and grocery business, said, “The shortage has directly affected both my business operations. At times, I cannot make deliveries on schedule, and stock movement slows down. This not only reduces sales but also increases costs, making it very hard to run the business smoothly. The authorities acknowledge the issue, but no concrete or lasting action has been taken.”

Kinley Dorji, the Dorokha Dungpa, admitted that shortages occur but said the situation may be overstated. “Last year, I contacted the headquarters and even called the Dzongdag to discuss the matter. He assured me that he would speak with the BOD manager, but no improvements have been seen since then. As this involves a private business, I do not have the authority to directly resolve the problem,” he said. He also noted that the station is sometimes closed due to lack of supply but said he has not received any formal complaints. “Some people raise the matter on social media, but I believe much of what is posted is only half the truth.”

For residents in remote areas, the problem feels even more severe. Mon Bdr Chhetri from Gawaling village in Denchukha Gewog said, “The fuel pump in our area is almost always out of stock. Whenever we go to refuel, the station has no fuel, which makes it extremely difficult for us to return home. For people living in remote places like Denchukha, this problem is even more challenging. When fuel is unavailable, we are stranded, and it affects not only our travel but also farming, business, and emergencies.”

Taxi driver Kiran Gurung also shared his experience. “I operate a taxi service between Dorokha and Phuentsholing, but because of the fuel shortage in Dorokha, I usually refill from Phuentsholing.”

Despite conflicting accounts, a significant number of residents continue to report disruptions. For many, storing fuel in jerry cans, requesting drivers to carry supplies from Phuentsholing, or delaying essential work has become routine. But these coping mechanisms are neither safe nor sustainable. Residents say they hope their long-standing appeals will finally prompt meaningful action, whether through better management, stricter monitoring, or the establishment of additional outlets.