Newly built houses at the Dekyi Village relocation site. [Photo/Awang Nyima]

Bundle after bundle of new house keys have unlocked a new chapter of stable housing for 2,242 villagers from 732 households; a brand-new community carries the aspirations of the people in Dekyi Village, Nyethang Town, Chushur County, for a better life. On December 4, the courtyard of the Dekyi Village Committee was bustling with activity as the housing selection and key handover ceremony for relocation households from Group 3 of Dekyi Village was held on schedule. This marks a crucial step in the housing selection process for villagers involved in the Dekyi Village (Groups 1-6) relocation project. With the orderly progress of the work, over 2,200 residents are about to bid farewell to their old homes and start a new chapter of settled living in their new community.

Joyful atmosphere at housing selection, keys hold the flavor of happiness

A 30-minute drive from downtown Lhasa leads to Dekyi Village, which borders Tohlung Dechen District and is traversed by National Highway 318. In front of the village committee's bulletin board, villagers had already gathered, standing on tiptoe to carefully check their selection numbers and housing information. Guided by staff, villagers orderly signed to confirm their information and received their new house keys. The atmosphere was lively yet well-organized, with many villagers praising the practicality of the apartment layouts, the natural lighting, and the community's green environment.

After completing her information verification, Kadron's family was also led by staff to carefully inspect their new house. After checking the doors, windows, electrical circuits, and other fixtures, Kadron felt a weight lift off her mind. Many villagers, upon receiving their keys, immediately began inspecting their new homes, meticulously measuring room dimensions and planning furniture arrangements, their faces displaying genuine joy and anticipation.

Why relocate Dekyi Village? Ingenuity lies in the new community planning

Dekyi Village is located about 40 kilometers east of Chushur County and about 20 kilometers west of Lhasa City, consisting of 10 villager groups with a registered population of 3,472 people from 1,093 households. Both the Lhasa Chushur County Circular Economy Industrial Park and the Nyethang Industrial Park of the Economic Development Zone are situated within its jurisdiction. Why would a village with such convenient transportation and a superior location initiate a large-scale ecological relocation project? Tenzin, the first secretary of Dekyi Village, provided the answer.

Tenzin explained that the implementation of this relocation project aims to effectively resolve the conflict between the ongoing development of the Circular Economy Industrial Park and the Nyethang Industrial Park within the village and the production and daily life of surrounding residents. It also seeks to further enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security, and to tangibly guarantee their housing safety. The project concerns the vital interests of 2,242 people from 732 households in Dekyi Village. Since its launch in the spring of 2024, construction of residential houses and public service and infrastructure projects began successively from September of the same year. The project has consistently adhered to a people-centered development philosophy, integrating public needs throughout the entire process.

During the apartment design phase, the relocation project command held multiple villager forums and conducted field visits and research. They fully considered the residents' living habits and family structures, repeatedly optimizing spatial layouts, functional zoning, and designs for lighting and ventilation. During the construction process, work progressed simultaneously on the 732 residential units and supporting infrastructure like roads, water supply, power supply, drainage, and telecommunications. To ensure housing quality, internal wall insulation was used during construction to prevent insulation layer detachment. The exterior walls were coated with weather-resistant, crack-resistant textured paint. Public areas were fully tiled, and the steps at every unit entrance were paved with cement. The project will also simultaneously construct a central square, parks, and sports facilities, with reasonable planning for landscaping and water features.

More considerately, the new community is thoughtfully equipped with comprehensive public service facilities, including a kindergarten, a neighborhood service center, a farmers' market, and a cultural activity center, catering to the needs of residents of different ages.

What is particularly noteworthy is that throughout the relocation project, residents were deeply involved indesign, decision-making, and implementation, fully respecting public opinion and relying on the people’s strength. This collaborative approach between the people and the government enhanced project satisfaction and acceptance. Upon completion, the new community will bring multiple positive changes. On one hand, the project effectively reduces the impact of facilities within the industrial parks on the lives of surrounding residents, significantly improving their living environment. On the other hand, the relocation will free up approximately 4,130 mu of land, with about 20 mu achieving efficient and intensive utilization. This injects strong momentum into Chushur County's efforts to build a high-quality Lhasa reproduction and city integration functional new area, helping urban-rural integrated development reach a new level.

Small keys unlocknew lives, new community carries the dream of livability

"Small keys unlock new lives," Tenzin remarked as he looked at the lively scene before him. He told the reporter that this Dekyi Village relocation project is an important component of Chushur County's ecological migration project. It aims not only to solve the villagers' "settled living" issue but also to achieve the goal of "happy work." Therefore, thorough preparations were made during the planning stage.

The new community not only boasts well-developed infrastructure but is also equipped with fully functional public service facilities. To help villagers adapt quickly to their new lives, the town has formed "support teams" consisting of Party membercadres, and volunteers to provide one-on-one services like policy consultation and daily life assistance. Simultaneously, a property management service department will be established, encouraging villagers to participate in grassroots governance, gradually transforming them from "villagers" into "community masters."

This livelihood project also provided local villagers with off-season employment opportunities. It is reported that 439 villagers worked at the construction site, with labor remuneration totaling 6.158 million yuan already distributed.

A key opens a household door, embodying the warmth of people's livelihood. The relocation of Dekyi Village is a vivid microcosm of Xizang's efforts to promote rural revitalization and practice the coordinated development of ecological protection and livelihood improvement. After relocation, the production and living conditions of residents inDekyi Village will be improved, and the health standards and development capacities of the villagerswill also be gradually enhanced.

Reporter: Dekyi Chodron

Translator: Dan Zhen, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Li Chengye