April 21: Housing shortage is a major problem confronting civil servants and corporate employees across the kingdom.

In Samdrup Jongkhar, the problem has been aggravated with many illegal settlers who were living in huts built on government land moving out in search of apartments. Most of them have nowhere to go.

Their only option was to look for apartments on rent. Many applied for the National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF) apartments.

They told our reporter Pema Samdrup that the allotment of the apartments has not been fair. They said while some have been allotted apartments within months of applying, others have been kept waiting eve after three years.

Officials from the National Pension Board in Samdrup Jongkhar said they have been fair. They said they have records of applications to prove it. They said the housing problem will ease with the completion of another housing project below the RBP camp later this month.

They said the Pension Board has also identified land for a new housing project near the new primary school to meet the growing demand for affordable housing.