If drinking water scarcity in the community continues, villagers of Panabi in Zhemgang might just have to relocate themselves to another place.
For years, the locals have been facing the problem, which the relevant authorities have not been able to solve despite repeated attempts.
With every passing year, locals claim of the problem worsening. Nearby water sources are drying.
In 2014, the gewog administration constructed a tank and installed an electric water pump below Panabi Village to address the water crunch. However, it did not work as there was no enough water from the source to pump.
Today, villagers manage with water stored in plastic tanks. But filling them, is a tiresome job. They have to walk for about half an hour to the water source and it’s an uphill climb on their way back.
“The water supply the government provided does not reach our village and it works only during summers. Access to water is a problem here,” said one of the villagers, Sonam Wangmo.
Like her, others in the village shared the same predicament. “In summer we store water for from the rain-fed ground water. We have to save it for winter as well. As of now, we fetch water from sources located in far off places,” told another villager, Sangay to BBS News. “For washing purposes, we go down where there’s another source but it’s drying as well. Without water, it is difficult to maintain hygiene at home.”
The gewog administration said after the water pumps failed to take water to the village, there are no other alternatives they can think of other than relocating the village.
“We have suggested villagers to relocate themselves. There is a state land in Kulamti but the villagers are reluctant to do so. From the gewog administration’s side, we do not see any other possibilities,” said Tashi, Phangkhar Gup.
From the nearest road head, it takes about two hour’s uphill walk to reach Panabi. It has eight households and people solely depend on agriculture for sustenance.
