I was looking for a decent apartment to be rented before my family joins me in Thimphu. During those days it was difficult to find an affordable house that is proportionate to your remuneration. This forced me to zone out looking for an apartment in the periphery of the Thimphu town. Finally, I had the luck to meet my friend moving out of the house from one of the lonely standing semi-concrete houses at the corner of Jungzhina where one has to walk around five minutes from the motorable road. I liked the place and house as it was quiet and peaceful unlike places adjacent to the main circle of Thimphu city with motor sound.
My house was the last structure to stand before walking a few minutes to the road point to catch the next settlement where there were few houses. Now, I always miss three seasons of the year of this place after constructions started booming in the area. My house was surrounded by paddy fields with greenery scenes everywhere before winter welcomes farmers to rest from growing their crops. I would always go out to enjoy the fresh environment around and to see the beautiful flow of Wangchu river next to the paddy fields. I use to enjoy watching farmers working hard in the field to make their daily living often confusing me if I am living in the capital city and constantly giving me nostalgia feelings of my growing up in the remote village.
Over the years, the emergence of development activities in the area and with the extension of Thimphu town plan to this place, the beauty crowned to this place is lost for once and forever. To my surprise now it has been three years that farmers have stopped farming in the paddy field. While asking them I was told that they are waiting for a new town plan, planning to build their house. The authority has stopped farmers from farming but did not see the new town plan coming soon. They are deprived of farming. Some of the farmers had to go to other places to work in the construction to feed their family members. Recently, the construction sector has also dwarf in its progress due to the economic situation of the country. It is reported that there is overshooting inflation due to the rupee crunch. There is a huge trade deficit between Bhutan and India.
I had to keep my gentle smile to my self after much contemplations on it. Farmers are forced to keep their land barren for the last three years and made to buy and eat imported rice instead of the local rice they produced themselves. Meanwhile, a few buildings are still maintaining their pace to grow despite the economic situation of the country. Poor farmers keep dreaming to build one in the future.
All have forgotten the paradise of the place once it used to be, be it the owner of a new building or one who aspires to be an owner of building in the future in this area.
My house was the last structure to stand before walking a few minutes to the road point to catch the next settlement where there were few houses. Now, I always miss three seasons of the year of this place after constructions started booming in the area. My house was surrounded by paddy fields with greenery scenes everywhere before winter welcomes farmers to rest from growing their crops. I would always go out to enjoy the fresh environment around and to see the beautiful flow of Wangchu river next to the paddy fields. I use to enjoy watching farmers working hard in the field to make their daily living often confusing me if I am living in the capital city and constantly giving me nostalgia feelings of my growing up in the remote village.
Over the years, the emergence of development activities in the area and with the extension of Thimphu town plan to this place, the beauty crowned to this place is lost for once and forever. To my surprise now it has been three years that farmers have stopped farming in the paddy field. While asking them I was told that they are waiting for a new town plan, planning to build their house. The authority has stopped farmers from farming but did not see the new town plan coming soon. They are deprived of farming. Some of the farmers had to go to other places to work in the construction to feed their family members. Recently, the construction sector has also dwarf in its progress due to the economic situation of the country. It is reported that there is overshooting inflation due to the rupee crunch. There is a huge trade deficit between Bhutan and India.
I had to keep my gentle smile to my self after much contemplations on it. Farmers are forced to keep their land barren for the last three years and made to buy and eat imported rice instead of the local rice they produced themselves. Meanwhile, a few buildings are still maintaining their pace to grow despite the economic situation of the country. Poor farmers keep dreaming to build one in the future.
All have forgotten the paradise of the place once it used to be, be it the owner of a new building or one who aspires to be an owner of building in the future in this area.
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| View of new structures at Taba |
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| Kids enjoying the green lush and sunshine |
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| Construction of the new structures |
(This opinion is mine alone, and does not represent the opinion of anyone else, including my employer. Please accept my apologies if anyone feels offended or disrespected by the article. Your kindness will always remain with me)
