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The urbanisation dilemma

5 November 2009

Developing towns
More than four decades after urbanisation process started in Bhutan, the country’s demographic pattern is following the global trend.
Unlike in many other countries where the establishment and growth of towns and cities were influenced by economic potentials, the development of towns in Bhutan initially resulted from the establishment of administrative centres.
The process of town planning in Bhutan started in 1974 when a central town planning committee was formed to guide urban development. Urban planning in the past was not successful as no donors were keen on supporting infrastructure development although supports were given for water supply and sanitation systems.
Support for Bhutanese urban development started flowing in after the 1996 UN Habitat conference. Since then, 10 urban centres have been supported by World Bank, three by Danida and two by ADB.
Today, there are plans for 35 towns, many of which are being implemented. Initially, 63 urban centres were identified. But the scenario changed after the enactment of the Land Act.
An urban centre is a settlement with a population density of more than 1,000 persons per sq km, a minimum population of 1,500 people. An urban centre should have an area of not less than 1.5 sq km with more than 50 percent of its population dependent on non-primary sectors. However, 36 out of 61 census towns in Bhutan have a population of less than 1,500.
The actual number of urban centres will be decided by the parliament, according to the Chief Town Planner of Department of Urban Development and Engineering Services (DUDES), Meghraj Adhikari.
Challenges of a rapid growth
Urban sector in Bhutan is faced with two key challenges – rapid growth and limited serviced land. Development of towns is not only resource intensive, but also expensive, especially when private land has to be acquired. Therefore, the land pooling scheme has been pursued.
The UN Habitat’s report on the state of the world’s cities, 2008-2009, states that nearly 60 percent of the world’s people would live in cities by 2030. Bhutan is not an exception.
The urban population is expected to increase by three times in the next one decade. Today, the urban population comprises 31 percent of the total population, and it is projected that, by 2020, more than 50 percent of the population will live in urban areas.
Only a decade ago, only 21 percent of Bhutanese lived in urban centres.
The estimated annual average growth of urban population in Bhutan was 7.3 percent between 2000 and 2005. The 2005 population and housing census of Bhutan pointed out that 111,770 people had migrated from rural areas to urban settlements out of a total population of 634,982.
This rapid urban growth has already created pressures on services like drinking water, sanitation and waste disposal.
This has also led to the deterioration of air quality and proliferation of squatter settlements in sensitive environment areas. Thimphu and Phuentsholing, in particular, have already started experiencing adverse effects of urbanization.
While basic urban facilities exist in all the towns, they are inadequate or they require improvement and expansion. Piped drinking water has been provided to 20 towns. However, sewage lines and treatment facilities have been put in place only in two towns, Thimphu and Phuentsholing.
Solid waste management and disposal system has been developed only in 13 towns.
Today, six dzongkhag towns of Chukha, Thimphu, Haa, Bumthang, Trongsa and Paro are considered relatively better developed. Seven dzongkhag towns of Samtse, Tsirang, Dagana, Samdrup Jongkhar, Mongar, Trashiyangtse and Pemagatshel are identified as less developed.
The planners’ dilemma
Some of the key challenges faced by the DUDES are a lack of human and financial resources, management change, economic development, change in purchasing power of people, ad hoc change in plans, and redevelopment of towns. Due to the fragile terrain and unstable geological conditions, the cost of construction is also generally high.
Currently, the sector has an acute shortage of urban planners, architects, geo-tech engineers, structural engineers, sociologists, and economists. Urban planning also has largely been constrained by a lack of data on population, rural to urban migration, socio-economic data, demographic information, and appropriate base map.
The urban environment needs to be improved through the development of community spaces for recreation and public facilities, one that is in harmony with the Bhutanese culture. This is expected to take years. Meghraj said town planning is a never-ending process.
Thimphu town planning is projected to be complete in 2027, the last in the list of urban towns to be complete.
However, there will be redevelopments and extensions all the time, which is common in municipalities. Migration is a major factor contributing to this. The 10th plan envisages preparing structure plan and local area plan for regional growth centres with sufficient space for future population expansion and an economic base for self-sustaining growth. This planned urban development will not only help mitigate rural to urban migration, but also create opportunities to meet rising expectations for commercial opportunities.
For balanced and equitable regional development, the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement has prepared the Bhutan National Urbanisation Strategy (BNUS). This will help address constraints through provisioning of the much-needed policy framework and guidance for the development of urban centres and infrastructure.
The total capital outlay for urban development is Nu 3,410.057 million, excluding dzongkhag programmes. Funds are expected to come from ADB, Danida, India, World Bank and the government.

Ten years from now, 50 percent of Bhutan’s population will live in towns. Sonam Pelden finds out how Bhutanese towns are shaping up amid challenges and dilemmas.

Developing towns

More than four decades after urbanisation process started in Bhutan, the country’s demographic pattern is following the global trend.

Unlike in many other countries where the establishment and growth of towns and cities were influenced by economic potentials, the development of towns in Bhutan initially resulted from the establishment of administrative centres.

The process of town planning in Bhutan started in 1974 when a central town planning committee was formed to guide urban development. Urban planning in the past was not successful as no donors were keen on supporting infrastructure development although supports were given for water supply and sanitation systems.

Support for Bhutanese urban development started flowing in after the 1996 UN Habitat conference. Since then, 10 urban centres have been supported by World Bank, three by Danida and two by ADB.

Today, there are plans for 35 towns, many of which are being implemented. Initially, 63 urban centres were identified. But the scenario changed after the enactment of the Land Act.

An urban centre is a settlement with a population density of more than 1,000 persons per sq km, a minimum population of 1,500 people. An urban centre should have an area of not less than 1.5 sq km with more than 50 percent of its population dependent on non-primary sectors. However, 36 out of 61 census towns in Bhutan have a population of less than 1,500.

The actual number of urban centres will be decided by the parliament, according to the Chief Town Planner of Department of Urban Development and Engineering Services (DUDES), Meghraj Adhikari.

Challenges of a rapid growth

Urban sector in Bhutan is faced with two key challenges – rapid growth and limited serviced land. Development of towns is not only resource intensive, but also expensive, especially when private land has to be acquired. Therefore, the land pooling scheme has been pursued.

The UN Habitat’s report on the state of the world’s cities, 2008-2009, states that nearly 60 percent of the world’s people would live in cities by 2030. Bhutan is not an exception.

The urban population is expected to increase by three times in the next one decade. Today, the urban population comprises 31 percent of the total population, and it is projected that, by 2020, more than 50 percent of the population will live in urban areas.

Only a decade ago, only 21 percent of Bhutanese lived in urban centres.

The estimated annual average growth of urban population in Bhutan was 7.3 percent between 2000 and 2005. The 2005 population and housing census of Bhutan pointed out that 111,770 people had migrated from rural areas to urban settlements out of a total population of 634,982.

This rapid urban growth has already created pressures on services like drinking water, sanitation and waste disposal.

This has also led to the deterioration of air quality and proliferation of squatter settlements in sensitive environment areas. Thimphu and Phuentsholing, in particular, have already started experiencing adverse effects of urbanization.

While basic urban facilities exist in all the towns, they are inadequate or they require improvement and expansion. Piped drinking water has been provided to 20 towns. However, sewage lines and treatment facilities have been put in place only in two towns, Thimphu and Phuentsholing.

Solid waste management and disposal system has been developed only in 13 towns.

Today, six dzongkhag towns of Chukha, Thimphu, Haa, Bumthang, Trongsa and Paro are considered relatively better developed. Seven dzongkhag towns of Samtse, Tsirang, Dagana, Samdrup Jongkhar, Mongar, Trashiyangtse and Pemagatshel are identified as less developed.

The planners’ dilemma

Some of the key challenges faced by the DUDES are a lack of human and financial resources, management change, economic development, change in purchasing power of people, ad hoc change in plans, and redevelopment of towns. Due to the fragile terrain and unstable geological conditions, the cost of construction is also generally high.

Currently, the sector has an acute shortage of urban planners, architects, geo-tech engineers, structural engineers, sociologists, and economists. Urban planning also has largely been constrained by a lack of data on population, rural to urban migration, socio-economic data, demographic information, and appropriate base map.

The urban environment needs to be improved through the development of community spaces for recreation and public facilities, one that is in harmony with the Bhutanese culture. This is expected to take years. Meghraj said town planning is a never-ending process.

Thimphu town planning is projected to be complete in 2027, the last in the list of urban towns to be complete.

However, there will be redevelopments and extensions all the time, which is common in municipalities. Migration is a major factor contributing to this. The 10th plan envisages preparing structure plan and local area plan for regional growth centres with sufficient space for future population expansion and an economic base for self-sustaining growth. This planned urban development will not only help mitigate rural to urban migration, but also create opportunities to meet rising expectations for commercial opportunities.

For balanced and equitable regional development, the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement has prepared the Bhutan National Urbanisation Strategy (BNUS). This will help address constraints through provisioning of the much-needed policy framework and guidance for the development of urban centres and infrastructure.

The total capital outlay for urban development is Nu 3,410.057 million, excluding dzongkhag programmes. Funds are expected to come from ADB, Danida, India, World Bank and the government.

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