Respite for water-scarce chiwog in Pema Gatshel

The tale of water shortage in Dechhenling-Goenpawoong Chiwog of Dechhenling Gewog is not new. The chiwog’s water crisis mainly stems from its location.

The chiwog lies on a hilltop with no natural water sources nearby. “Our chiwog sits on a hilltop, while all water sources are in the valleys,” said Samten Tshewang, the Tshogpa of Dechhenling-Goenpawoong Chiwog.

“The livestock officials want us to rear cattle and start piggery farms but we don’t even have enough water for drinking and washing.”

However, the problem is likely to be solved for good soon. That’s because a water pump is being built in the chiwog to pump water. It is being constructed at a cost of over Nu 10 m and is expected to be ready by February next year.

This is not the first time the government tried to solve the chiwog’s water shortage. Earlier, the chiwog was supplied water from a faraway source but it didn’t work out well. The authorities as well as the villagers are now pinning their hopes on the water pump.

The people in the chiwog are looking forward to having access to an uninterrupted drinking water supply.  “We have come a long way,” says Sangay Dem from Bata, a village under the chiwog that depends on a private water source.

“In the past, we had to walk long distances to fetch drinking water.”

It was only later that the villagers of Bata found the temporary source from which they currently drink. They chipped in money to tap water from that private source. “Every household contributed Nu 5,000 for it,” shared Yeshi Jamtsho, another villager.

But the source is not very reliable. “When it rains continuously, pipes break and we have to keep on maintaining it,” said Yeshi Jamtsho.

The new water pump will benefit about 20o households in the chiwog.

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