Wamrong: Rising from the ashes

Source: Kuenselonline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back In Business: Rinzin Wangchuk in his new shop

19 April, 2010 - “My family was totally shattered,” was Tenzin Drukpa’s immediate response after the October 8 fire razed 12 houses in the town last year. “The flames took everything we ever had,” he said.
Today, six months after the fire, Tenzin is back to running a fully stocked general shop in a house he can call his own.

On March 31, the 12 shopkeepers of Wamrong town, who lost everything to the fire, resumed business when the 12 semi permanent structures, built by the Gyalpoi Zimpon’s office, were consecrated and handed over to them.  Each house was built at a cost of more Nu 300,000.

Tenzin now runs a general shop from a four-roomed semi permanent house. The goods to establish their shops were also transported free by the Zimpon’s office.

The new houses, granted as a kidu from His Majesty the King, have been built opposite to their burnt shops across the Trashigang-Samdrupjongkhar highway.  It becomes more convenient for them, when they start rebuilding their homes. “We can run the shop and also look after the rebuilding of our homes,” said Rinzin Wangchuk, one of the fire victims.

His Majesty on April 16 also granted land kidu of 2.24 acres to 19 commercial and 42 residential beneficiaries.  The land altogether is worth more than Nu 4.3M.  His Majesty signed the decree, granting the land , sitting on the highway amidst the beneficiaries.

The land kidu has fulfilled a long held wish of the shopkeepers and residents, who have waited many years for a town plan.

Most of the shops in Wamrong town that sprouted in the late 1960s were built on government land.  The town serves as a lunch point for the travellers plying the Trashigang-Samdrupjongkhar highway.

“Until now, we worried the government might ask us to move any time.

There was no peace of mind,” said Dechen Wangdi, who runs an eatery in Wamrong town. “Now we can focus on our business alone and try all means to do better hereafter.”

The land kidu beneficiaries are going to start rebuilding after the rainy season.

The shopkeepers now look back at the fire incident with pain, but are happy that it brought a solution to an uncertain future for the town and its residents.

By Tshering Palden