A 12 km long farm road for Goensar_Radzawog chiwog in Nyishog Gewog, Wangdue Phodrang, constructed around three years back remains unused without a motorable bridge.
“The farm road reached till the end of our chiwog. However, it has been left idle without the movement of vehicles due to lack of a motorable bridge over Dangchu River,” said Passang Dorji, from Goensar-Razawog chiwog.
It took about two and a half year to complete it and almost reached to the doorsteps of every household by spending Nu 2.8 M. It was constructed with the fund from Gewog Development Grant. But according to the farmers, since there is no movement of vehicles, the road got blocked by landslides in several places and has almost become nonfunctional now.
However, the local leader says this farm road is still benefiting the people to transport their goods in power tiller.
Whereas the people of the chiwog claim that their farm road could not help them effectively so far. They have to still carry their goods on their back to the road point.
“For instance, if we have to go to Nobding, we could reach our goods hardly twice to the road point from our home even if we start from morning at 4 AM. So, today, I have still not taken my potatoes to the market,” said Ugyen Wangmo, from Goensar-Razawong chiwog.
“Of course, the farm road was constructed after consulting with the public. But, it has blocked the entire footpath and mule track. It affects the people to transport their products to the market especially during summer. So, it mostly affects the people of Zil village because of several roadblocks,” added Phub Gyeltshen from the same chiwog.
Today, most of the people in the chiwog carry their goods on their backs till the other side of the river by crossing a suspension bridge. People say it is beyond their capacity to clear the farm road as the roadblock keeps on happening with huge landslides.
However, this problem will be solved with the construction of a ninety feet long Bailey bridge over Dangchu River. The works are in full swing and itis about to connect the village. The bridge is being constructed by a private construction company and the Construction Development Corporation Limited with the total budget of Nu 5.6 M from the Gewog Development Grant, Dzongkhag and Ministries. According to the gewog leader, the bridge construction is expected to complete after one week.
The people of the Chiwog are happy with the progress of the bridge construction.
“The bridge being constructed will definitely bring us many benefits once the construction is completed. We can easily take vehicles to our doorsteps to load our goods. Likewise, even our elderly people can sell their vegetables from their doorstep since they will not have to carry on their back to the road point,” Phub Gyeltshen, said.
The gewog administration says the underutilized farm road will be renovated once the bridge construction is complete and the current problem will be solved thereafter.
“We have thoroughly discussed and decided to start the farm road renovation works in the second year of the 12th FYP. We also have a budget from the government. It will be renovated perfectly so that our people can use the farm road throughout the seasons,” Dorji Dorji, the gup of Nyisho Gewog said.
Goensar_Radzawog chiwog is one of the remotest chiwog in the gewog. And once the construction of the bridge and renovation of the farm road is complete, it will directly benefit the people of the whole chiwog. There are about thirty households in the chiwog.
