January 24, 2010: Wamrong’s story is that of rising from the ashes. The rebuilding work has begun after the conflagration razed to ground 12 houses and left many homeless on the fateful day of October 8 last year. It was a mass destruction of property but fortunately no casualties were reported.

Authorities said the cause was an electric short circuit. Relief services poured in with the government taking the lead. His Majesty visited the site and granted kidu to the victims.

But one thing which was always known but never dealt with came out in the open- the houses were built illegally on government land. Notwithstanding the sufferings of the victims the government once again offered aid to them.

With the 23 acres town planning in Wamrong approved in 2008, work is already in progress. Demarcated plots are ready for allotment and roads and footpaths are already being constructed.

“Earlier the work was delayed because of some ambiguities in the rules,” said the chief town planner Meghraj Adhikari.

Right now the budget estimate is in progress. Water supply and sewage system plus waste disposal sites are next on the agenda.

And in many ways than one, this has turned out to a blessing in disguise for the fire victims who had illegally settled on government land. And the government is helping them to re-establish their lives in the same area.

His Majesty has commanded that timber and CGI sheets should be provided free of cost to them so that they can build new homes.

And the work and human settlement ministry is providing “technical assistance,” according to the structure engineer in charge of the reconstructions, Karma Jamtsho.

He said that far from penalizing the builders of the illegal houses, the government land will most probably be handed over to them. Not just that. “Temporary sheds are under construction. As soon as they are completed they will be handed over to the victims,” said Karma Jamtsho.

At present the victims are staying in make-shift tarpaulin shelters and other government buildings. Some are putting up with their friends and relatives while yet others have moved to other dzongkhags at least for the time-being.

Meanwhile the actual construction of the new buildings for the victims will start as soon as the architectural designs are completed and funds mobilized. This is alongside other structural proposals for the town.

“But the people will have to carry out their own building constructions,” said Karma Jamtsho.