GELEPHU MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

The establishment of the Municipal Corporation in Gelephu dates back to 1989. It is one of the few Municipal Corporations in Bhutan holding a separate administrative setup, while most of the towns are managed by their respective Dzongkhag Administrations. The Municipal Corporation in Gelephu was set up as a part of an Asian Development Bank funded project.

The Gelephu Municipal Corporation is headed by the Honorable Chairman (Dzongda of Sarpang Dzongkhag) and Vice-Chairman (Dungpa of Gelephu Dungkhag). The officer-in-charge is responsible for the day to day administration activities. Town sanitation, water supply, street lighting, revenue collection, civil administration, survey, maintenance of municipal owned roads, infrastructure facilities and implementation of new developmental activities pertaining to the basic needs of the town are some of the broad activities taken care of by the Gelephu Municipal Corporation. The total staff-strength of the Municipal Corporation is about fifty people including sweepers, drivers, electricians and caretakers.

Within the town limits, the Gelephu Municipal Corporation performs the following obligatory functions :

Provision of potable water supply, including distribution reservoirs and water treatment;
Construction and Maintenance of storm water drains;
Construction and Maintenance of roads and footpaths owned by Municipal Corporation;
Providing and Maintaining street lights;
Collection and Disposal of solid waste;
Disposal of dead animals and unclaimed bodies;
Approving construction proposals;
Cleaning of septic tanks on demand;
Provision and maintenance of various social, cultural and recreational amenities; and,
Coordination with other agencies during calamities.

It provides and maintains the following social, cultural and recreational facilities in town area:

Central Playground;
Gelephu Sports Association Club;
Vegetable and Meat market;
Open Space at Norkhil Lam;
Truck and Taxi parking; and,
Public Toilets.

Since the Gelephu Municipal Corporation is attached to the Dzongkhag, the other discretionary functions are taken care by the Dzongkhag Administration like providing health facilities, educational facilities and disaster management measures for any kind of epidemic outbreak, flooding, etc.