With an increasing number of people residing in Charpaling pastureland under Merag Gewog in Trashigang district, getting sufficient drinking water has become a problem. Damaged water pipes further aggravates the problem. Charpaling is a pastureland where herders from Merag settles for few months every year before they move to other pasturelands. Around 85 families of herder reside in Charpaling.
Namsay, a herder at Charpaling said, “We have single pipeline supplying water. Since we have more household there, the water supplied by the government is not enough. Forget about cattle, we don’t have sufficient water.”
“Our cattle did not have specified place to drink water. Wherever we go to fetch water, we used to take our cattle there. We have difficulty getting a proper drinking water,” added Hrangchung.
To resolve the problem, a new water supply system was constructed recently. In addition to constructing one new water reservoir tank, people in the community are now fixing water pipes and water taps near their houses. The materials were provided by the Gewog Office.
Phurpa Tshering, a resident said, “Water taps have been installed near our houses and it is being shared between two to three households. It will benefit us immensely.”
Three water troughs were also constructed to provide water to the cattle with support from National Highlander Research Development Center.
Sonam Darjay
